Bridging the terahertz gap for chaotic sources with superconducting junctions

Abstract

We observe a broadband chaotic signal of terahertz frequency emitted from a superconducting junction. The generated radiation has a wide spectrum reaching 0.7 THz and power sufficient to drive on-chip circuit elements. Our experimental finding is fully confirmed by numerical modeling based on microscopic theory and reveals the unrealized potential of superconducting systems in chaos-based terahertz communication, fast generation of true random numbers, and noninvasive terahertz spectroscopy.