Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

Noise in relaxation-oscillation-driven DC SQUIDs

S.A. Gugoshnikov, O.V. Kaplunenko, Yu. V. Maslennikov, Oleg V. Snigirev

Published Mar 1, 1991• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The noise properties of the simple relaxation-oscillation-driven DC SQUIDs (RO-SQUIDs) have been studied. A limitation of its internal energy sensitivity E/sub v/ at a level close to 4*10/sup -31/ J/Hz due to the influence of the Josephson junction plasma oscillation has been found for the 5- mu m-design-rule technology. The signal characteristics with the transfer flux-to-voltage factor up to 2 mV/ Phi /sub 0/ and equivalent noise flux of about 1.3*10/sup -6/ Phi /sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2/ in the new all-niobium version of the balanced RO-SQUID have been measured.

DOI
10.1109/20.133711

Related papers

(Double) relaxation oscillation SQUIDs with high flux-to-voltage transfer: Simulations and experiments

Derk Jan Adelerhof, H. Nijstad, J. Flokstra +1 more

Relaxation oscillation superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) (ROSs) and double relaxation oscillation SQUIDs (DROSs) have been fabricated and characterized. The SQUIDs are based on hysteretic Nb/Al,AlOx/Al/Nb Josephson tunnel junctions. The relaxation oscillations were simulated by computer. By these simulations the minimum and maximum values of the shunt inductance at which the relaxation oscillations persist have been determined for different values of the shunt resistance and of the critical current and capacitance of the junctions. The transfer from flux to dc voltage in ROSs increases linearly with the shunt resistance. The operation range of the shunt inductance, however, becomes smaller with increasing shunt resistance. In ROSs with a SQUID inductance of 20 pH, a maximum voltage modulation width of 400 μV and a flux-to-voltage transfer δV/δφ of 4 mV/φ0 have been obtained. Two ROSs have been operated in a simple flux-locked loop with direct voltage readout. The experimental white flux noise spectral density of about 3μφ0/√Hz is in good agreement with the theoretical model. The sensitivity of these SQUIDs is limited by so-called switching noise, which is noise due to the interaction between the relaxation oscillations and the Josephson frequency. In DROSs typical flux-to-voltage transfer values of 10–30 mV/φ0 and maximum values up to 80 mV/φ0 have been obtained. This transfer is determined by thermal noise on the critical currents of the SQUIDs. The effective flux noise density of DROSs in flux-locked-loop operation with direct voltage readout is in good agreement with the theoretical noise level which is mainly determined by thermal noise on the critical currents. In one of the DROSs with a SQUID inductance of 20 pH, a white flux noise of 1μφ0/√Hz has been obtained at an estimated relaxation frequency of about 80 MHz. This corresponds to an energy sensitivity of about 160 h.

Journal of Applied Physics•Sep 15, 1994•55 citations

Broadband SQUID amplifiers for photonic applications

Vladimir Polushkin, D. Glowacka, R. Hart +1 more

The dynamics and noise of a dc SQUID (the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device), with the McCumber parameter /spl beta//sub c/=2/spl pi/R/sup 2/l/sub c/C//spl Phi//sub 0/ close to the unity (where I/sub c/, R, C is the critical current, the shunt resistance and the capacitance of the Josephson junctions comprising the SQUID, respectively, /spl Phi//sub 0/=2.07 10/sup -15/ Wb is the magnetic flux quantum) integrated with a planar spiral input coil, have been experimentally studied. The length of the spiral input coil was chosen so as to match its /spl lambda//4 microwave resonance frequency to the plasma resonance frequency of the SQUID. The input coil resonance is found to enhance the overall quality factor Q of the Josephson oscillations in the SQUID and, as a result, to increase the dynamic resistance R/sub d/ and the gradient of the flux-to-voltage characteristics, /spl delta/V//spl delta//spl Phi/, without hysteresis. A dc SQUID with a loop inductance L=30.5 pH, /spl beta//sub c/=0.72, and a 6 turn input coil demonstrated a non-distorted quasi-sinusoidal flux-to-voltage transfer function with an exceptionally large modulation depth of 140 /spl mu/V peak-to-peak. The spectral density of the magnetic flux noise was as low as 3.5/spl times/10/sup -7/ /spl Phi//sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2/ in the double stage configuration, measured at a temperature 4.2 K using direct read out electronics. In combination with an intermediary transformer, the current resolution of the SQUID is as low as 1.25 pA/Hz/sup 1/2/ with an input coil inductance of 100 nH.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 1999•1 citation

A coupled DC SQUID with low 1/f noise

Heikki Seppä, M. Kiviranta, Alexandre Satrapinski +3 more

A low-noise coupled DC superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) especially optimized for low frequency is discussed. Using large Josephson junctions and a low loop inductance the contribution of the critical current fluctuation to 1/f noise can be minimized. To minimize the inductance the Josephson junctions are placed in the center of the washer close to the SQUID loop. A scaled-up copper model of the SQUID and the signal coil is used to analyze the impedance of the SQUID loop affected by the signal coil. An equivalent circuit model describing the effective inductance of the SQUID loop as a function of the frequency is used to design appropriate damping of the resonances. The DC SQUID characteristics are smooth and the noise performance of the SQUID does not markedly suffer from resonances. The contribution of the 1/f noise at 1 Hz is found to be about 5*10/sup -7/ Phi /sub 0// square root Hz.>

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Mar 1, 1993•25 citations

Second generation dc SQUID sensors: ROS with frequency read out and DROS with voltage read out

Derk Jan Adelerhof, Michiel J. van Duuren, Jakob Flokstra +1 more

Relaxation Oscillation SQUIDs (ROSs) based on 4x4 {mu}m{sup 2} Nb/AlO{sub x} Josephson tunnel junctions have been fabricated and characterized. A ROS consists of a hysteretic dc SQUIID shunted by an inductor L and a resistor R in series to induce the relaxation oscillations. The values of L range from 20 nH up to about 300 nH, whereas the time constant L/R are between 8 and 45 ns. Frequency-flux characteristics have been recorded with the help of a spectrum analyzer, directly connected to the ROS. The relaxation frequencies range from 5 to 180 MHz. The experimental characteristics can be explained very well with a simple model describing the oscillation cycle. The effect of the self-induced magnetic field due to a magnetic coupling between the dc SQUID and the shunt circuit has been studied in detail. The sensitivity of ROSs and DROSs (Double Relaxation Oscillation SQUIDs) improves with increasing relaxation frequency. In (D)ROSs based on unshunted, hysteretic tunnel junction dc SQUIDS, the maximum relaxation frequency and the sensitivity are limited by LC resonances due to the SQUID capacitance and the shunt inductance. It is shown that the relaxation frequency can be increased up to frequencies of the order of 1 GHz ifmore » an extra resistor is integrated to damp these resonances. The optimum value of the damping resistor can be obtained from the ROS parameters. For stable operation of a (D)ROS, the shunt resistance should not be too large. The optimum value of this resistance can be calculated from the effective McCumber parameter and the bias current. Theoretically, the sensitivity of a ROS with a SQUID capacitance of 1 pF, a SQUID inductance of 20 pH and a relaxation frequency of 1 GHz equals about 5, where h is Planck`s constant. In a DROS with voltage readout based on similar SQUIDS, the theoretical sensitivity at a relaxation frequency of 1 GHz is 17h, with an estimated flux-to-voltage transfer coefficient of 5 mV/{phi}{sub 0}.« less

•Dec 31, 1994•6 citations

Origin of 1/f noise in Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x step-edge dc SQUIDs

Dirk Grundler, Rainer Eckart, Bernd R. David +1 more

We have fabricated Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x step-edge junction dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) and characterized their noise performance. The current-voltage characteristics of our SQUIDs are of resistively shunted junction type with critical current densities jc of about 104 A/cm2 and maximum flux to voltage transfer functions δV/δΦ of 20 μV/Φ0 at 77 K. We compare model predictions for 1/f noise in dc SQUIDs with experimental data and show that the frequency dependent noise in our devices results from critical current fluctuations of the Josephson junctions. A bias current reversing technique is effective in suppressing this noise contribution. A flux noise Φn of 80 μΦ0/Hz1/2 at 1 Hz and 77 K was measured on a dc SQUID with an inductance Ls of 60 pH.

Applied Physics Letters•Apr 26, 1993•24 citations

Low noise DC SQUIDs fabricated in Nb-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Nb trilayer technology

M. B. Ketchen, Manjul Bhushan, Steven B. Kaplan +1 more

The authors have designed, fabricated and tested all-refractory DC SQUIDs in Nb-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Nb trilayer technology that have noise performance comparable to the best previously reported for any technology. A variety of SQUID designs were incorporated as part of a trilayer process development test vehicle. SQUID inductance, junction area, and resistive shunt geometry were varied in matrix fashion to give SQUIDs with near-optimum parameter values for a factor of five range in Josephson current density and shunt sheet resistance. The devices were fabricated using a selective niobium anodization with a minimum feature size of 2 mu m. The base electrode and Nb wiring were patterned with dry etching, and the junction areas were defined by anodization: the Ti resistors were patterned with a lift-off process. Current density on different wafers was varied from 400 to 1000 A/cm/sup 2/ with typical junction V/sub m/'s of 60 mV. The shunt sheet resistance was varied in the 1-5- Omega / Square Operator range. The noise was measured with an RF SQUID direct small-signal readout scheme. A 50-pH SQUID with 3- mu m/sup 2/, 16- mu A junctions and 14- Omega shunt resistors was shown to have an ideally low white noise of 1*10/sup -13/ Phi /sub 0//sup 2//Hz, a white to 1/f crossover frequency at 7 Hz, and a noise level less than 6*10/sup -12/ Phi /sub 0//sup 2//Hz at 0.1 Hz.

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Mar 1, 1991•24 citations
The noise properties of the simple relaxation-oscillation-driven DC SQUIDs (RO-SQUIDs) have been studied. A limitation of its internal energy sensitivity E/sub v/ at a level close to 410/sup -31/ J/Hz due to the influence of the Josephson junction plasma oscillation has been found for the 5- mu m-design-rule technology. The signal characteristics with the transfer flux-to-voltage factor up to 2 mV/ Phi /sub 0/ and equivalent noise flux of about 1.310/sup -6/ Phi /sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2/ in the new all-niobium version of the balanced RO-SQUID have been measured.
Relaxation oscillation superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) (ROSs) and double relaxation oscillation SQUIDs (DROSs) have been fabricated and characterized. The SQUIDs are based on hysteretic Nb/Al,AlOx/Al/Nb Josephson tunnel junctions. The relaxation oscillations were simulated by computer. By these simulations the minimum and maximum values of the shunt inductance at which the relaxation oscillations persist have been determined for different values of the shunt resistance and of the critical current and capacitance of the junctions. The transfer from flux to dc voltage in ROSs increases linearly with the shunt resistance. The operation range of the shunt inductance, however, becomes smaller with increasing shunt resistance. In ROSs with a SQUID inductance of 20 pH, a maximum voltage modulation width of 400 μV and a flux-to-voltage transfer δV/δφ of 4 mV/φ0 have been obtained. Two ROSs have been operated in a simple flux-locked loop with direct voltage readout. The experimental white flux noise spectral density of about 3μφ0/√Hz is in good agreement with the theoretical model. The sensitivity of these SQUIDs is limited by so-called switching noise, which is noise due to the interaction between the relaxation oscillations and the Josephson frequency. In DROSs typical flux-to-voltage transfer values of 10–30 mV/φ0 and maximum values up to 80 mV/φ0 have been obtained. This transfer is determined by thermal noise on the critical currents of the SQUIDs. The effective flux noise density of DROSs in flux-locked-loop operation with direct voltage readout is in good agreement with the theoretical noise level which is mainly determined by thermal noise on the critical currents. In one of the DROSs with a SQUID inductance of 20 pH, a white flux noise of 1μφ0/√Hz has been obtained at an estimated relaxation frequency of about 80 MHz. This corresponds to an energy sensitivity of about 160 h.
The dynamics and noise of a dc SQUID (the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device), with the McCumber parameter /spl beta//sub c/=2/spl pi/R/sup 2/l/sub c/C//spl Phi//sub 0/ close to the unity (where I/sub c/, R, C is the critical current, the shunt resistance and the capacitance of the Josephson junctions comprising the SQUID, respectively, /spl Phi//sub 0/=2.07 10/sup -15/ Wb is the magnetic flux quantum) integrated with a planar spiral input coil, have been experimentally studied. The length of the spiral input coil was chosen so as to match its /spl lambda//4 microwave resonance frequency to the plasma resonance frequency of the SQUID. The input coil resonance is found to enhance the overall quality factor Q of the Josephson oscillations in the SQUID and, as a result, to increase the dynamic resistance R/sub d/ and the gradient of the flux-to-voltage characteristics, /spl delta/V//spl delta//spl Phi/, without hysteresis. A dc SQUID with a loop inductance L=30.5 pH, /spl beta//sub c/=0.72, and a 6 turn input coil demonstrated a non-distorted quasi-sinusoidal flux-to-voltage transfer function with an exceptionally large modulation depth of 140 /spl mu/V peak-to-peak. The spectral density of the magnetic flux noise was as low as 3.5/spl times/10/sup -7/ /spl Phi//sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2/ in the double stage configuration, measured at a temperature 4.2 K using direct read out electronics. In combination with an intermediary transformer, the current resolution of the SQUID is as low as 1.25 pA/Hz/sup 1/2/ with an input coil inductance of 100 nH.
A low-noise coupled DC superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) especially optimized for low frequency is discussed. Using large Josephson junctions and a low loop inductance the contribution of the critical current fluctuation to 1/f noise can be minimized. To minimize the inductance the Josephson junctions are placed in the center of the washer close to the SQUID loop. A scaled-up copper model of the SQUID and the signal coil is used to analyze the impedance of the SQUID loop affected by the signal coil. An equivalent circuit model describing the effective inductance of the SQUID loop as a function of the frequency is used to design appropriate damping of the resonances. The DC SQUID characteristics are smooth and the noise performance of the SQUID does not markedly suffer from resonances. The contribution of the 1/f noise at 1 Hz is found to be about 5*10/sup -7/ Phi /sub 0// square root Hz.>
Relaxation Oscillation SQUIDs (ROSs) based on 4x4 {mu}m{sup 2} Nb/AlO{sub x} Josephson tunnel junctions have been fabricated and characterized. A ROS consists of a hysteretic dc SQUIID shunted by an inductor L and a resistor R in series to induce the relaxation oscillations. The values of L range from 20 nH up to about 300 nH, whereas the time constant L/R are between 8 and 45 ns. Frequency-flux characteristics have been recorded with the help of a spectrum analyzer, directly connected to the ROS. The relaxation frequencies range from 5 to 180 MHz. The experimental characteristics can be explained very well with a simple model describing the oscillation cycle. The effect of the self-induced magnetic field due to a magnetic coupling between the dc SQUID and the shunt circuit has been studied in detail. The sensitivity of ROSs and DROSs (Double Relaxation Oscillation SQUIDs) improves with increasing relaxation frequency. In (D)ROSs based on unshunted, hysteretic tunnel junction dc SQUIDS, the maximum relaxation frequency and the sensitivity are limited by LC resonances due to the SQUID capacitance and the shunt inductance. It is shown that the relaxation frequency can be increased up to frequencies of the order of 1 GHz ifmore » an extra resistor is integrated to damp these resonances. The optimum value of the damping resistor can be obtained from the ROS parameters. For stable operation of a (D)ROS, the shunt resistance should not be too large. The optimum value of this resistance can be calculated from the effective McCumber parameter and the bias current. Theoretically, the sensitivity of a ROS with a SQUID capacitance of 1 pF, a SQUID inductance of 20 pH and a relaxation frequency of 1 GHz equals about 5, where h is Planck`s constant. In a DROS with voltage readout based on similar SQUIDS, the theoretical sensitivity at a relaxation frequency of 1 GHz is 17h, with an estimated flux-to-voltage transfer coefficient of 5 mV/{phi}{sub 0}.« less
We have fabricated Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x step-edge junction dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) and characterized their noise performance. The current-voltage characteristics of our SQUIDs are of resistively shunted junction type with critical current densities jc of about 104 A/cm2 and maximum flux to voltage transfer functions δV/δΦ of 20 μV/Φ0 at 77 K. We compare model predictions for 1/f noise in dc SQUIDs with experimental data and show that the frequency dependent noise in our devices results from critical current fluctuations of the Josephson junctions. A bias current reversing technique is effective in suppressing this noise contribution. A flux noise Φn of 80 μΦ0/Hz1/2 at 1 Hz and 77 K was measured on a dc SQUID with an inductance Ls of 60 pH.
The authors have designed, fabricated and tested all-refractory DC SQUIDs in Nb-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Nb trilayer technology that have noise performance comparable to the best previously reported for any technology. A variety of SQUID designs were incorporated as part of a trilayer process development test vehicle. SQUID inductance, junction area, and resistive shunt geometry were varied in matrix fashion to give SQUIDs with near-optimum parameter values for a factor of five range in Josephson current density and shunt sheet resistance. The devices were fabricated using a selective niobium anodization with a minimum feature size of 2 mu m. The base electrode and Nb wiring were patterned with dry etching, and the junction areas were defined by anodization: the Ti resistors were patterned with a lift-off process. Current density on different wafers was varied from 400 to 1000 A/cm/sup 2/ with typical junction V/sub m/'s of 60 mV. The shunt sheet resistance was varied in the 1-5- Omega / Square Operator range. The noise was measured with an RF SQUID direct small-signal readout scheme. A 50-pH SQUID with 3- mu m/sup 2/, 16- mu A junctions and 14- Omega shunt resistors was shown to have an ideally low white noise of 1*10/sup -13/ Phi /sub 0//sup 2//Hz, a white to 1/f crossover frequency at 7 Hz, and a noise level less than 6*10/sup -12/ Phi /sub 0//sup 2//Hz at 0.1 Hz.