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Journal of Applied Physics

Experimental study of amplitude–frequency characteristics of high-transition-temperature radio frequency superconducting quantum interference devices

Xian-Lin Zeng, Y. Zhang, Boris Chesca, K. Barthel, Ya. S. Greenberg, Alex I. Braginski

Published Dec 1, 2000• 13 citations

Abstract

We measured the amplitude–frequency characteristics of radio frequency superconducting quantum interference devices (rf SQUIDs) over a temperature range between 65 and 79 K. Using the expressions derived from the recently developed rf SQUID theory, valid also at large thermal fluctuations, we determined from these data the basic parameters of high-transition-temperature superconductor (HTS) rf SQUIDs. These parameters were: (a) the high-frequency coupling coefficient between the rf SQUID and the tank circuit resonator, k, (b) the SQUIDs hysteretic parameter, β, (c) the critical current of the Josephson junction, Ic, (d) its normal resistance, Rn, and (e) its noise parameter, Γ. We found a good agreement with the values of β(Ic) and Rn determined directly after destructively opening the SQUID loop. In accordance with the theoretical predictions, our experimental results show that at large thermal fluctuation levels (T≅77 K), rf SQUIDs with large loop inductance operate in nonhysteretic mode up to β values exceeding 3. Furthermore, we have shown that the optimal energy sensitivity is attained in the nonhysteretic mode at a value of β distinctly higher than 1. A quantitative comparison of white noise predicted by the theory with that obtained from the experiment showed a reasonable agreement. We also discussed the contribution of the phase information to the SQUID’s signal and noise at optimum operation conditions, when a mixer was used as a signal detector.

DOI: 10.1063/1.1288780

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Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Feb 1, 1990•2 citations

We measured the amplitude–frequency characteristics of radio frequency superconducting quantum interference devices (rf SQUIDs) over a temperature range between 65 and 79 K. Using the expressions derived from the recently developed rf SQUID theory, valid also at large thermal fluctuations, we determined from these data the basic parameters of high-transition-temperature superconductor (HTS) rf SQUIDs. These parameters were: (a) the high-frequency coupling coefficient between the rf SQUID and the tank circuit resonator, k, (b) the SQUIDs hysteretic parameter, β, (c) the critical current of the Josephson junction, Ic, (d) its normal resistance, Rn, and (e) its noise parameter, Γ. We found a good agreement with the values of β(Ic) and Rn determined directly after destructively opening the SQUID loop. In accordance with the theoretical predictions, our experimental results show that at large thermal fluctuation levels (T≅77 K), rf SQUIDs with large loop inductance operate in nonhysteretic mode up to β values exceeding 3. Furthermore, we have shown that the optimal energy sensitivity is attained in the nonhysteretic mode at a value of β distinctly higher than 1. A quantitative comparison of white noise predicted by the theory with that obtained from the experiment showed a reasonable agreement. We also discussed the contribution of the phase information to the SQUID’s signal and noise at optimum operation conditions, when a mixer was used as a signal detector.

Experimental results on some radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference device (rf-SQUID) signal properties are presented. The quantum interferometer was made of ceramic YBa2Cu3O7−x and was due to a low critical current operated in the inductance or nonhysteretic mode. With bias current as reference, amplitude variation, and phase shift of the voltage over the tank circuit coupled to the SQUID were measured simultaneously. It is shown that there is qualitative agreement between calculations based on the resistivity shunted junction model and the data. Moreover, using phase detection, signal instabilities predicted for the rf-SQUID inductance mode were observed. These signal instabilities may be exploited to enhance the transfer coefficient for measured flux-to-output signal.

We have measured with high accuracy (100 ppm) and high precision (5--10 ppm) the impedance of a rf-driven resistive superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) as a function of the amplitude and frequency of the radio-frequency (rf) bias, as a function of the current bias, and as a function of several other circuit parameters. We have developed the coupled differential equations for the resistive SQUID and for the rf tank circuit. The fit of the solutions of these equations to the data for nonhysteretic junctions is excellent. We were unable to develop solutions for the hysteretic case and thus simply present examples of typical data obtained in order to illustrate the differences with the nonhysteretic case. The relationship of this study to noise thermometry using resistive SQUID's is indicated.

The electrical equations of a resonant circuit fed with a radio-frequency current and inductively coupled to a weakly superconducting loop have been derived. The current-voltage characteristic of the rf superconducting quantum interference device can then be calculated and studied as a function of the junction resistance or of the resonance frequency, enabling its behavior to be better understood. As shown by Kurkijärvi, the large positive slope of the steps and the rounding of the characteristic result from thermal noise. However, in order to explain quantitatively the experimental results concerning, namely, point contact weak links which are generally oxidized or which have several contact points, it is useful to remark that the connection between the two superconductors constituting the Josephson junction may be made from n resistive paths. The mean thermal energy of the fluctuating flux is then close to nkbT instead of kbT if the inductances linking the contact points are large enough, that is, on the order of 10−11 H.

Direct current superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) made from high transition temperature superconductors typically exhibit a still unexplained higher white noise and smaller transfer function than numerical simulations based on the coupled Langevin equations predict. We present a systematic study that compares experimental results with both numerical simulations and a recently developed analytical approach based on a Fokker–Planck equation. To cover a wide range of SQUID parameters, two samples of different inductances were measured at variable temperature. While several predictions of the analytical theory could be verified and a good qualitative agreement with both theories is observed, only one sample showed good quantitative agreement. Furthermore, our simulations performed in the limit of large thermal fluctuations show excellent agreement with the analytic theory.

A method for determining the superconducting-quantum-interference-device (SQUID) parameter β = LsIc/Φo and the coupling coefficient K between the SQUID loop and tank circuit based on the general theory for the nonhysteretic rf SQUID is derived. Analysis of the periodic dependence of the amplitude of the tank-circuit voltage on applied dc flux leads to explicit expressions for β and K. Important advantages of the method are that, during measurements, the SQUID loop has neither to be opened nor decoupled from the tank circuit, and the temperature of the sample does not have to be changed. Measurements with a Nb-point-contact SQUID at 4.2 K to verify the method in practice are reported. Intrinsic errors were estimated to be less than 10%.

Based on the hypothesis that the macroscopic superconducting shielding current on the surface of a porous granular superconductor is short lived due to the action of thermal noise, a dispersive-mode theory for a high-temperature radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference device (rf SQUID) is suggested. In this theory, the effect of the SQUID ring on the resonant tank circuit is an effective inductance

{L}_{e}

,

{L}_{e}

=

{k}^{2}

{\mathrm{FL}}_{T}

, where k is the coupling coefficient between the SQUID ring and the resonant tank circuit with inductance

{L}_{T}

, and F is a periodic function of external flux ${\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{\mathrm{dc}}$ with a period of flux quantum ${\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}$. The phenomena that the weak-link-rf-SQUID flux-receiving area defined by the hole of the SQUID ring and the bulk-rf-SQUID flux-receiving area, which is determined by an annular surface region with a thickness of the effective penetration depth ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{e}$, can be interpreted. The theory is qualitatively consistent with available experimental results.