Analysis of the radio-frequency single-electron transistor with large quality factor

We have analyzed numerically the response and noise-limited charge sensitivity of a radio-frequency single-electron transistor (RF-SET) in a non-superconducting state using the orthodox theory. In particular, we have studied the performance dependence on the quality factor Q of the tank circuit for Q both below and above the value corresponding to the impedance matching between the coaxial cable and SET.

A theoretical analysis of the charge sensitivity of the RF-SET is presented. We use the ``orthodox'' approach and consider the case when the carrier frequency is much less than $I/e$ where $I$ is the typical current through RF-SET. The optimized noise-limited sensitivity is determined by the temperature $T$, and at low $T$ it is only 1.4 times less than the sensitivity of conventional single-electron transistor.

We present the fabrication and measurement of a radio frequency single electron transistor (rf-SET), that displays a very high charge sensitivity of 1.9 microlectrons/sqrt(Hz) at 4.2 K. At 40 mK, the charge sensitivity is 0.9 and 1.0 microlectrons/sqrt(Hz) in the superconducting and normal state respectively. The sensitivity was measured as a function of radio frequency amplitude at three different temperatures: 40 mK, 1.8 K and 4.2 K.

We present results on a double-island single-electron transistor (DISET) operated at radio-frequency (rf) for fast and highly sensitive detection of charge motion in the solid state. Using an intuitive definition for the charge sensitivity, we compare a DISET to a conventional single-electron transistor (SET). We find that a DISET can be more sensitive than a SET for identical, minimum device resistances in the Coulomb blockade regime. This is of particular importance for rf ...

By operating the radio frequency single electron transistor (rf-SET) as a mixer we present measurements in which the RC roll-off of the tunnel junctions is observed at high frequencies. Our technique makes use of the non-linear rf-SET transconductance to mix high frequency gate signals and produce difference-frequency components that fall within the bandwidth of the rf-SET. At gate frequencies >15GHz the induced charge on the rf-SET island is altered on time-scales faster tha...

We have investigated the effects of quantum fluctuations of quasiparticles on the operation of superconducting radio-frequency single-electron transistors (RF-SETs) for large values of the quasiparticle cotunneling parameter $\alpha=8E_{J}/E_{c}$, where $E_{J}$ and $E_{c}$ are the Josephson and charging energies. We find that for $\alpha>1$, subgap RF-SET operation is still feasible despite quantum fluctuations that renormalize the SET charging energy and wash out quasipartic...

The operation of resistively-coupled single-electron transistor (R-SET) is studied quantitatively. Due to the Nyquist noise of the coupling resistance, degradation of the R-SET performance is considerable at temperatures $T$ as small as $10^{-3} e^2/C$ (where $C$ is the junction capacitance) while the voltage gain becomes impossible at $T\agt 10^{-2}e^2/C$.

Single electron transistors (SETs) are very sensitive electrometers and they can be used in a range of applications. In this paper we give an introduction to the SET and present a full quantum mechanical calculation of how noise is generated in the SET over the full frequency range, including a new formula for the quantum current noise. The calculation agrees well with the shot noise result in the low frequency limit, and with the Nyquist noise in the high frequency limit. We...

We experimentally characterise the impedance of a single electron transistor (SET) at an excitation frequency comparable to the electron tunnel rate. Differently from usual rf-SET operations, the excitation signal is applied to the gate of the device. At zero source-drain bias the single electron transistor displays both resistive (Sisyphus resistance) and reactive (tunnelling capacitance) components to its impedance. We study the bias dependence of the complex impedance, inv...

Radio-frequency (rf)- operated single-electron transistors (SETs) are high-sensitivity, fast-response electrometers, which are valuable for developing new insights into single-charge dynamics. We investigate high-frequency (up to 1 MHz) charge noise in an AlGaAs/GaAs quantum dot using a transmission-type rf-SET technique. The electron capture and emission kinetics on a trap in the vicinity of the quantum dot are dominated by a Poisson process. The maximum bandwidth for measur...