MgB₂/MgO/MgB₂josephson junctions for high-speed circuits

MgB2/MgO/MgB2sandwich-type Josephson junctions have been fabricated using MgB2films grown by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition (HPCVD). The MgO barrier and the insulating layer between wiring layers were made by RF magnetron sputtering. The junctions exhibit non-vanishing Jcup to 40 K, the Tcof MgB2·MgB2wiring is achieved without significantly changing the junction properties. The fabrication and properties of the junctions are described in detail. The I-V curves of the junctions are hysteretic at temperatures below 25 K and are RSJ-like above 25 K. Multiple Andreev reflection was observed, manifested by subgap peaks in the dI/dV-V curves and in good agreement with the theory. The Jcspread (1 σ)of 10 junctions on one chip is better than 10%, which is likely due to the defects inside the MgO barrier as identified by transmission electron microscopy. Superconducting circuits made of these junctions may be expected to work at frequencies up to 1 THz or at temperatures over 20 K.