Synchronous chip-to-chip communication with a multi-chip resonator clock distribution network *

Abstract

Superconducting digital circuits are a promising approach to build integrated systems with high energy-efficiency and computational density of the packaged chips. In such systems, performance of the data link between chips mounted on a multi-chip-module (MCM) is a critical driver of performance. In this work we report a synchronous data link using reciprocal quantum logic enabled by resonant clock distribution on-chip and on the MCM carrier. The simple physical link has only four Josephson junctions and 3 fJ/bit dissipation, including a 300 W/W cooling overhead. The driver produces a signal with 35 GHz analog bandwidth and connects to a single-ended receiver via 20 Ω Nb passive transmission line. To validate this link, we have designed, fabricated, and tested two 32 × 32 mm2 MCMs with eight 5 × 5 mm2 chips connected serially and powered by a traveling-wave clock, and with four 10 × 10 mm2 chips powered with a 2 GHz resonant clock. The traveling-wave clock MCM validates performance of the data link components and achieves a 5.4 dB AC bias margin with no degradation relative to individual chip tests. The resonator MCM validates synchronization between chips, with a measured AC bias margin up to 4.8 dB between two chips. The resonator MCM is capable of powering circuits of 4 million Josephson junctions across the four chips with a projected 10 Gbps serial data rate.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Sep 08, 2022
Source ID
10.1088/1361-6668/ac8e38

Entities

People

  • Anna Herr
  • Brainton Song
  • Ed Rudman
  • Jonathan Egan
  • Joshua Strong
  • Max Nielsen
  • Q.P. Herr
  • Vladimir Talanov

Organizations

  • Army Research Office

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Microwave Engineering.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Quantum Computing