A superconducting 6-bit analog-to-digital converter with operation to 2 × 109samples/second

The design and performance of a 6-bit superconducting A/D converter are described. The converter is based on double junction interferometers used as current comparators. The unique periodic response of these comparators makes possible a fully parallel N-bit converter requiring only N comparators. Conversion rates up to 2 × 10
⁹
samples per second have been demonstrated.