Dynamics of Bloch oscillating transistor near bifurcation threshold

Abstract

Tendency to bifurcate can often be utilized to improve performance characteristics of amplifiers or even to build detectors. Bloch oscillating transistor is such a device. Here we show that bistable behaviour can be approached by tuning the base current and that the critical value depends on the Josephson coupling energy $E_J$ of the device. We demonstrate record-large current gains for device operation near the bifurcation point at small $E_J$. From our results for the current gains at various $E_J$, we determine the bifurcation threshold on the $E_J$ - base current plane. The bifurcation threshold curve can be understood using the interplay of inter- and intra-band tunneling events.