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Chinese Physics B

Increasing linear flux range of SQUID amplifier using self-feedback effect

Ying-Yu 滢宇 Chen 陈, Chao-Qun 超群 Wang 王, Yuan-Xing 元星 Xu 徐, Yue 越 Zhao 赵, Li-Liang 利良 Ying 应, Hangxing Xie, Bo 波 Gao 高, Zhen 镇 Wang 王

Published May 25, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are low-noise amplifiers that are essential for the readouts of translation edge sensors (TESs). The linear flux range is an important parameter for SQUID amplifiers, especially those controlled by high-bandwidth digital flux-locked-loop circuits. A large linear flux range conduces to accurately measuring the input signal and also increasing the multiplexing factor in the time-division multiplexed (TDM) readout scheme of the TES array. In this work, we report that the linear flux range of an SQUID can be improved by using self-feedback effect. When the SQUID loop is designed to be asymmetric, a voltage-biased SQUID shows an asymmetric current–flux (I–Φ) response curve. The linear flux range is improved along the I–Φ curve with a shallow slope. The experimental results accord well with the numerical simulations. The asymmetric SQUID will be able to serve as a building block in the development of the TDM readout systems for large TES arrays.

DOI
10.1088/1674-1056/acd8ac

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Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are low-noise amplifiers that are essential for the readouts of translation edge sensors (TESs). The linear flux range is an important parameter for SQUID amplifiers, especially those controlled by high-bandwidth digital flux-locked-loop circuits. A large linear flux range conduces to accurately measuring the input signal and also increasing the multiplexing factor in the time-division multiplexed (TDM) readout scheme of the TES array. In this work, we report that the linear flux range of an SQUID can be improved by using self-feedback effect. When the SQUID loop is designed to be asymmetric, a voltage-biased SQUID shows an asymmetric current–flux (I–Φ) response curve. The linear flux range is improved along the I–Φ curve with a shallow slope. The experimental results accord well with the numerical simulations. The asymmetric SQUID will be able to serve as a building block in the development of the TDM readout systems for large TES arrays.
We have designed and demonstrated a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) array linearized with cryogenic feedback. To achieve the necessary loop gain, a 300-element series array SQUID is constructed from three monolithic 100-element series arrays. A feedback resistor completes the loop from the SQUID output to the input coil. The short feedback path of this linearized SQUID array (LISA) allows for a substantially larger flux-locked loop bandwidth as compared to a SQUID flux-locked loop that includes a room temperature amplifier. The bandwidth, linearity, noise performance, and 3 Phi(0) dynamic range of the LISA are sufficient for its use in our target application: the multiplexed readout of transition-edge sensor bolometers.
We have designed and demonstrated a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) array linearized with cryogenic feedback. To achieve the necessary loop gain a 300 element series array SQUID is constructed from three monolithic 100-element series arrays. A feedback resistor completes the loop from the SQUID output to the input coil. The short feedback path of this Linearized SQUID Array (LISA) allows for a substantially larger flux-locked loop bandwidth as compared to a SQUID flux-locked loop that includes a room temperature amplifier. The bandwidth, linearity, noise performance, and dynamic range of the LISA are sufficient for its use in our target application: the multiplexed readout of transition-edge sensor bolometers.
User-friendly ultra-high-speed readout electronics for dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are presented. To maximize the system bandwidth, the SQUID is directly read out without flux modulation. A composite preamplifier is used consisting of a slow dc amplifier in parallel with a fast ac amplifier. In this way, excellent dc precision and a high amplifier bandwidth of 50 MHz are achieved, simultaneously. A virtual 50 Ω amplifier input resistance with negligible excess noise is realized by active shunting, i.e., by applying feedback from preamplifier output to input via a high resistance. The white voltage and current noise levels are 0.33 nV Hz −1 and 2.6 pA Hz −1/2 , respectively. The electronics is fully computer controlled via a microcontroller integrated into the flux-locked loop (FLL) board. Easy-to-use software makes the various electronic settings accessible. A wide bias voltage range of 1.3 mV enables the readout of series SQUID arrays. Furthermore, additional current sources allow the operation of two-stage SQUIDs or transition edge sensors. The electronics was tested using various SQUIDs with input inductances between 30 nH and 1.5 µH. Typically, the maximum FLL bandwidth was 20 MHz, which is close to the theoretical limit given by transmission line delay within the FLL. Slew rates of up to 4.6 Φ 0 µs −1 were achieved with series SQUID arrays. Current noise levels as low as 0.47 pA Hz −1/2 and coupled energy sensitivities between 90 h and 500 h were measured at 4.2 K, where h is the Planck constant. The noise did not degrade when the system bandwidth was increased to the maximum value of about 20 MHz. With a two-stage set-up, intrinsic white energy sensitivities of 30 h and 2.3 h were measured at 4.2 and 0.3 K, respectively.
Direct-current superconducting quantum interference devices (dc-SQUIDs) are one of the most sensitive magnetic detectors. These sensors are extensively used in the readout of superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs), which are used for the detection of weak signals. A cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization telescope operating in 22-48 GHz is currently under developing. The TESs calorimeter of the telescope will be readout by a time-division multiplexer (TDM) SQUID readout system. We develop a two-stage dc-SQUID amplifier circuit, comprising an input-stage SQUID with 4 SQUID cells and a series SQUID array (SSA) with 100 SQUID cells. This configuration has been shown to achieve extremely high signal gain while effectively controlling system noise. We assess the system noise at 300300300 mKmKmK in an adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerator (ADR). The the measured magnetic flux noise of the two-stage SQUID circuit system is approximately 0.30.30.3 μΦ0/HzμΦ_{0}/\sqrt{Hz}μΦ0​/Hz​ at 101010 kHzkHzkHz. The current noise equivalent to the input coil of input SQUID is about 2.42.42.4 pA/HzpA/\sqrt{Hz}pA/Hz​. This result meets the low-noise readout requirements of the CMB TES and other applications with TES detectors.
A cold preamplifier based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) is currently the preferred readout technology for the low-noise transition edge sensor (TES). In this work, we have designed and fabricated a series SQUID array (SSA) amplifier for the TES detector readout circuit. In this SSA amplifier, each SQUID cell is composed of a first-order gradiometer formed using two equally large square washers, and an on-chip low pass filter (LPF) as a radio-frequency (RF) choke has been developed to reduce the Josephson oscillation interference between individual SQUID cells. In addition, a highly symmetric layout has been designed carefully to provide a fully consistent embedded electromagnetic environment and achieve coherent flux operation. The measured results show smooth V–Φ characteristics and a swing voltage that increases linearly with increasing SQUID cell number N. A white flux noise level as low as 0.28 μ Φ 0/Hz1/2 is achieved at 0.1 K, corresponding to a low current noise level of 7 pA/Hz1/2. We analyze the measured noise contribution at mK-scale temperatures and find that the dominant noise derives from a combination of the SSA intrinsic noise and the equivalent current noise of the room temperature electronics.
The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) employs DC Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) Series Array Amplifiers (SSAAs) in its phonon readout system. These amplifiers are in a transresistance topology utilizing feedback from room-temperature electronics. The input coil of each SSAA is in series with a phonon sensor composed of many parallel transition edge sensors (TES's). The SSAA consists of 100 individual SQUIDs, each surrounded by planar input and feedback coils with an electrically isolated flux-focusing washer, which increases the inductive coupling between the SQUID and each coil. A room-temperature gain stage completes the feedback loop between the SSAA output voltage and the feedback coil current. We report on a significant mutual inductance that exists directly between the feedback and input coils, on its impact on the feedback network of the amplifier, and on the resulting transfer function. The consequent effects include a partial nulling of the input coil's self-inductance, as well as resonant peaking in the closed-loop response that depends on the impedance of the input coil circuit.