Phase locking experiments in distributed arrays of Josephson junctions

Arrays of phase locked Josephson junctions are attractive for use as sub-mm wavelength voltage controlled oscillators for heterodyne mixers and free space radiators. We have performed phase locking experiments on 40 junction, parallel biased arrays of Josephson junctions coupled through transmission lines of varying delays. The longest junction to junction delay implemented was 5.4 ps for a design frequency of 90 GHz, while the shortest was 1.45 ps, for a design frequency of 345 GHz. The resonant frequency f/sub 0/ of the arrays was found to be almost independent of the transmission line delay with f/sub 0/, scaling with the plasma frequency for arrays fabricated at critical current densities of 10/sup 3/ and 4.5/spl times/10/sup 3/A/cm/sup 2/. The data indicate that at the resonant frequency, strong phase locking is present among the junctions for junction separations significantly less than one half wavelength even in arrays many wavelengths long.<>