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IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

Even harmonic Josephson magnetometry

Q. Geng, Eiichi Goto

Published Mar 1, 1993• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A novel Josephson junction magnetometry scheme is proposed in which magnetic flux is applied to Josephson junctions with a modulation flux +or-z( Phi /sub 0//2 pi ) cos omega t. Two Josephson junctions are used in a push-pull mode to perform amplification through two mechanisms: negative inductance amplification of DC (low frequency) components and parametric amplification of the second harmonic. The second harmonic component of the Josephson currents, which is directly proportional to the strength of the input flux, is then selected and amplified by a phase-sensitive detector. Computer simulations show that the device behaves very well as a magnetic flux sensor with a DC offset free feature. The device's parameters and noise problems are also discussed. A preliminary analysis indicates that it is likely to have a better sensitivity than superconducting quantum interference devices.>

DOI
10.1109/77.233330

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We have designed and characterized a micro-SQUID with dispersive readout for use in low temperature scanning probe microscopy systems. The design features a capacitively shunted RF SQUID with a tunable resonance frequency from 5 to 12 GHz, micrometer spatial resolution, and integrated superconducting coils for local application of magnetic fields. The SQUID is operated as a nonlinear oscillator with a flux- and power-dependent resonance frequency. Measurements for device characterization and noise benchmarking were carried out at 4 K. The measured flux noise above 10 kHz at 4 K is 80 nΦ0 Hz−1∕2 at a bandwidth of 200 MHz. 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•Sep 30, 1974•0 citations
A novel Josephson junction magnetometry scheme is proposed in which magnetic flux is applied to Josephson junctions with a modulation flux +or-z( Phi /sub 0//2 pi ) cos omega t. Two Josephson junctions are used in a push-pull mode to perform amplification through two mechanisms: negative inductance amplification of DC (low frequency) components and parametric amplification of the second harmonic. The second harmonic component of the Josephson currents, which is directly proportional to the strength of the input flux, is then selected and amplified by a phase-sensitive detector. Computer simulations show that the device behaves very well as a magnetic flux sensor with a DC offset free feature. The device's parameters and noise problems are also discussed. A preliminary analysis indicates that it is likely to have a better sensitivity than superconducting quantum interference devices.>
There is currently fundamental and technological interest in measuring and manipulating nanoscale magnets, particularly in the quantum coherent regime. To observe the dynamics of such systems one requires a magnetometer with not only exceptional sensitivity but also high gain, wide bandwidth, and low backaction. We demonstrate a dispersive magnetometer consisting of a two-junction superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) in parallel with an integrated, lumped-element capacitor. Input flux signals are encoded as a phase modulation of the microwave drive tone applied to the magnetometer, resulting in a single quadrature voltage signal. For strong drive power, the nonlinearity of the resonator results in quantum limited, phase sensitive parametric amplification of this signal, which improves flux sensitivity at the expense of bandwidth. Depending on the drive parameters, the device performance ranges from an effective flux noise of 0.29 $\ensuremath{\mu}{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}$Hz${}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ and 20 MHz of signal bandwidth to a noise of 0.14 $\ensuremath{\mu}{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}$Hz${}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ and a bandwidth of 0.6 MHz. These results are in excellent agreement with our theoretical model.
The sensitivity of a two-Josephson-junction interferometer as a magnetic flux detector (dc SQUID) is estimated. The minimum value of the basic SQUID characteristic-noise equivalent temperature δT = (δΦ)2/kBL appears to be as low as for the best rf SQUID mode:(\deltaT)_{\min}/(\Deltaf)\cong 3 T/f_{o}. HereTis an operating temperature, fois a characteristic frequency of the Josephson junctions and\Deltafis a post-detector bandwidth. For a typical value of SQUID inductance L this limit corresponds to flux sensitivity of the order of 10-7Φo/Hz1/2.
We have designed and characterized a micro-SQUID with dispersive readout for use in low temperature scanning probe microscopy systems. The design features a capacitively shunted RF SQUID with a tunable resonance frequency from 5 to 12 GHz, micrometer spatial resolution, and integrated superconducting coils for local application of magnetic fields. The SQUID is operated as a nonlinear oscillator with a flux- and power-dependent resonance frequency. Measurements for device characterization and noise benchmarking were carried out at 4 K. The measured flux noise above 10 kHz at 4 K is 80 nΦ0 Hz−1∕2 at a bandwidth of 200 MHz. Estimations suggest that one can benefit from parametric gain based on inherent nonlinearity of the Josephson junction and reduce the flux noise to 30 nΦ0Hz–1∕2 at 100 mK, which corresponds to 10.6 μBHz–1∕2 for a magnetic moment located at the center of the pickup loop.Measuring the magnetic response of mesoscopic samples or mapping it vs. position for extended systems is effective methods for revealing the fundamental quantum properties of condensed matter systems. Over the past few decades, many advanced magnetic imaging schemes have been developed, including magnetic force microscopy,1 scanning Hall probe microscopy,2 superconducting interference devices (SQUIDs),3,4 and NV center based magnetometry.5 The high sensitivity, low back action, and low power dissipation of SQUIDs make them attractive for many types of low temperature experiments. One classic example is the central role of scanning SQUID microscopy in tests of pairing symmetry of high-Tc cuprate superconductors.6 Other prominent applications are the thermodynamic characteristics of persistent currents in normal metal rings7 and proof of edge states in topological insulators in the quantum spin Hall regime.8A key performance for a SQUID is its flux sensitivity. Parametric amplification has been harnessed in nano-SQUIDs based on aluminum junctions9,10 in order to reduce the flux noise down to 30 nΦ0Hz–1∕2 with a bandwidth exceeding 60 MHz.10 Recent studies on parametric amplifiers and dispersive readout of superconducting qubits also harness the nonlinearity of the Josephson junction to boost sensitivity.11–13In scanning SQUID microscopy, signal sources often behave dipole-like, such as superconducting vortices in mesoscopic dots or currents in mesoscopic rings. Smaller SQUIDs provide better coupling to smaller samples which leads to higher spin sensitivity3,14 as the magnetic field of a dipole decreases with 1/r3. Various approaches have been pursued to reduce the size. The smallest nano-SQUID to date has been fabricated by evaporating Nb or Pb15 onto the apex of a sharp quartz tip reaching a loop diameter of below nm and a spin sensitivity of 0.38 μBHz−1/2 at tens of kHz bandwidth. Compared to such size-optimized devices, micro-SQUIDs fabricated using a standard Nb technique have the advantage of on-chip field coils and modulation coils,14 and can be operated at 4 K allowing for a wide range of applications. However, these come at the cost of larger pick-up loops of a few microns and a resulting poorer spin sensitivity of 200 μBHz−1/2 for a magnetic moment located at the center of the pickup loop.The limitation of large pickup loops was previously only overcome by devices with pickup loops defined by the focused-ion-beam,16 but has recently also been achieved by improvements in lithography and shown to offer better spatial resolution as well.17 Here, we present a scanning micro-SQUID which is based on the same fabrication technology incorporating another major advancement. Our design exploits the parametric amplification based on nonlinearities of the SQUID to boost sensitivity. The combination of a smaller pickup loop and parametric amplification of the signal leads to better spin sensitivity (10.6 μBHz−1/2) and higher bandwidth (200 MHz) compared to traditional DC micro-SQUIDs in which the flux sensitivity is mainly limited by internal dissipation.Our devices were fabricated at Hypres Inc. using planarized Nb/AlOx/Nb trilayer Josephson junction technology, including two planarized Nb layers with approximately 0.8 μm minimum feature size. The SQUID consists of a superconducting ring shunted by one Josephson junction with a designed critical current of 20 μA [Fig. 1(a)]. With this geometry, the SQUID is gradiometric, i.e., the effect of any homogeneous background magnetic field approximately cancels out. The smallest pickup loops implemented have an inner (outer) diameter of 1 μm (2 μm). The superconducting loop is shunted by an on-chip parallel-plate capacitor with amorphous silicon dioxide as dielectric which was designed to have a capacitance of 80 pF. The superconducting loop and the capacitor form a resonator with a flux dependent resonance frequency from 5 to 12 GHz. The pickup loops are placed on opposite corners of the parallel-plate capacitor at a distance of about 450 μm so that one loop can be located in close proximity to the sample while the other is kept far away from it. External fields can be applied to the sample by local single-turn field coils situated around each pickup loop. The field coils are fully integrated into the chip layout and can also be used to bias the SQUID at its most sensitive point. Compared to using additional modulation coils,14 this approach has the advantage of reducing the total device inductance, which leads to a higher sensitivity.18 In a scanning microscope, the field coil at the rear end (away from the sample) can be used to bias the SQUID or operate it in flux feedback such that resulting stray fields will not act on the sample, apart from a weak screening current through the pickup loop. The effective diameter of each coil is 7.5 μm, resulting in a mutual inductance of about 0.34 Φ0/mA (for the smallest pickup loop). The SQUID resonator is connected by an on-chip Z0 = 50 Ω coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line to the bonding pads. The two field coils are connected by two smaller CPWs to the bottom edge bonding pads [Fig. 1(c)], ending in two parallel-stripline waveguides running alongside the edges of the capacitor towards the respective field coils. Based on estimations, it should thus be possible to apply high frequency signals of at least several GHz to SQUID and sample.
In quantum technology, several aspects of superconductivity such as proximity effect have studied to develop a wide range of attractive applications at sub-kelvin temperatures. A new type of interferometer based on the proximity effect, taking place around transparent interfaces between normal- and superconducting metals, the Superconducting Quantum Interference Proximity Transistor (SQUIPT), relies on the phase dependence of the density of states in the proximized weak link. The SQUIPT devices offer the possibility to realize sensitive low-dissipation magnetometers compared to conventional DC SQUIDs. In this thesis, we investigate the development of the sensitive SQUIPT magnetometers. \n \nThe first part of the thesis covers the characterization of non-hysteretic SQUIPTs with enhanced responsivity. In these structures, we demonstrate magnetic flux modulation of the device characteristics displaying no hysteresis at low temperatures by simply increasing the Josephson inductance of the weak link compared to self-inductance of the superconducting loop in the device. As a consequence, improvement in magnetic field responsivity is achievable. \n \nWe then turn to the implementation of SQUIPT devices based on different fabrication methods and superconductor materials for improving the device performance. In this aspect, we fabricate and characterize niobium-based SNS devices utilizing two separate lithography and deposition steps with strong Ar ion cleaning in between. We further investigate a prototype hybrid SQUIPT device based on an Nb-Cu-Nb SNS junction with a conventional Al probe in tunnel junction. \n \nIn the third part of the thesis, we present the flux noise characterization of a SQUIPT device using simultaneous measurement of DC transport properties and shot noise. To probe the noise, we use a cryogenic amplifier operating at frequencies in the range of a few MHz. We adapt this technique for flux noise measurements in SQUIPTs, adaptable also to low-temperature shot noise measurements of other nonlinear devices with high impedance. In order to investigate flux noise of SQUIPTs, we develop a model allowing one to optimize the figures of merit of the magnetometers such as the noise-equivalent flux.