Inductive Noise Coupling in Superconductive Passive Transmission Lines

Abstract

Superconductive niobium-based circuits is a promising energy efficient beyond-CMOS technology that can supplement or replace existing large scale CMOS systems. Modern superconductive circuits utilize more than ten metal layers for gates and interconnect. Many sources of inductive coupling noise exist within this environment. Superconductive circuits are particularly vulnerable to inductive coupling, as the operation of the logic gates and flip flops depends on precise bias conditions, and the signal magnitude is relatively small. These inductive coupling sources are characterized, and the effects of inductive coupling noise in different circuit structures are described. Guidelines to mitigate the deleterious effects of coupling noise are presented.