Gate-tunable kinetic inductance parametric amplifier

Superconducting parametric amplifiers enable the preparation and readout of quantum states at microwave frequencies and are essential for quantum computing platforms based on superconducting qubits. Most implementations of such amplifiers rely on the non-linearity from superconducting quantum interference devices or on disordered superconductors, while the frequency tunability arises from flux or current biasing. On the other hand, semiconductor based parametric amplifiers are tunable by local electric fields, which impose limited thermal load on the cryogenic setup and lead to vanishing crosstalk to other on-chip quantum systems. We realize a gate-tunable Josephson junction-free kinetic-inductance parametric amplifier based on a proximitized semiconducting nanowire. This nearly quantum-limited amplifier features standard characteristics of up to 30dB gain and 30MHz gain-bandwidth product. The Josephson junction-free design allows for large saturation powers, magnetic field compatibility and frequency tunability. This realization of this parametric amplifier supplements efforts towards gate-controlled superconducting electronics.