Ultimate Accuracy of Frequency to Power Conversion by Single-Electron Injection

Area of Science:

• Quantum Metrology
• Single-Electron Devices
• Superconductivity

Background:

• A novel frequency-to-power converter utilizes a hybrid single-electron box and a normal metal bolometer.
• This system's potential for high-precision metrology requires theoretical analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To theoretically analyze the properties of the frequency-to-power converter.
• To evaluate its potential for metrological applications.
• To identify and quantify sources of error in power measurement.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of a hybrid single-electron box coupled to a normal metal bolometer.
• Calculation of systematic errors, including excess average electron energy and subgap leakage.
• Analytic and numerical simulations to assess error contributions.

Main Results:

• Identified electron injection inaccuracy as the primary source of power measurement error.
• Quantified systematic errors related to excess average electron energy and subgap leakage.
• Demonstrated that detection errors can be significantly smaller than injection errors.

Conclusions:

• The frequency-to-power converter shows promise for metrology, with potential for <1% error at low temperatures.
• Minimizing injection errors through careful parameter selection is crucial for accuracy.
• A simplified configuration is proposed for enhanced metrological utility.