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IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE)

A High-Frequency DC SQUID Magnetic Sensor Design

Shihao Wang, Odette S. Bakam Nguenouho, Jean‐François Bousquet

Published Sep 15, 2024• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This paper presents a SQUID-based quantum sensor for ultra-sensitive magnetic field detection, comprising a two-stage architecture utilizing the DC SQUID as a front-end sensor as well as for the Josephson Parametric Amplifier (JPA) in the second stage. The work details the circuit design and characteristics of the DC SQUID, introduces the challenges associated with high-frequency sensing, and analyzes the nonlinear behavior in the superconducting region crucial for ultra-sensitive detection. Furthermore, it demonstrates the gain enhancements achieved through the parametric amplifier and establishes a good match between device measurement results and the behavioral model.

DOI
10.1109/qce60285.2024.00163

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This paper presents a SQUID-based quantum sensor for ultra-sensitive magnetic field detection, comprising a two-stage architecture utilizing the DC SQUID as a front-end sensor as well as for the Josephson Parametric Amplifier (JPA) in the second stage. The work details the circuit design and characteristics of the DC SQUID, introduces the challenges associated with high-frequency sensing, and analyzes the nonlinear behavior in the superconducting region crucial for ultra-sensitive detection. Furthermore, it demonstrates the gain enhancements achieved through the parametric amplifier and establishes a good match between device measurement results and the behavioral model.
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Abstract 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 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 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 300 mK in an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator. The measured magnetic flux noise of the two-stage SQUID circuit system is approximately 0.3 μ Φ 0 / Hz at 10 kHz. The current noise equivalent to the input coil of input SQUID is about 2.4 pA / Hz . This result meets the low-noise readout requirements of the CMB TES and other applications with TES detectors.
The dc Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (dc-SQUID) is one of the most sensitive magnetic field sensors available. In this thesis we concentrate on its application as an amplifier. In this configuration, an input circuit of interest can be connected by means of a coupling coil. The intended application of our developed low-Tc SQUID amplifiers is the readout of the first spherical gravitational wave antenna MiniGRAIL. Using small-signal analysis as well as numerical simulations, we study the achievable signal-to-noise ratio of such sensors in practical measurements. Published theories and studies could be extended. Some interesting points treated are the influence of the often used negative feedback (flux-locked loop), an altered input impedance of the SQUID amplifier and the influence of back-action noise, which directly affects the object of interest. The altered operation of the SQUID due to the presence of the input circuit is studied in numerical experiments. Another important issue, the influence of integrated input coils on the dynamics of SQUIDs, is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The performance of our developed sensors is compared to numerical simulations on detailed models. The results give insights into the behavior, design and usage of dc-SQUIDs with integrated coils. For a SQUID with input inductances of 1.5 μH we reached a good coupled energy sensitivity of about 170 ¯h in a dilution refrigerator. Furthermore, we investigated the hot-electron effect. This effect typically limits the sensitivity of superconducting electronics at sub-Kelvin bath temperatures due to a weakened electron-phonon coupling. We performed heating experiments on thin-film resistors which are similar to the shunt resistors of the Josephson junctions used in our sensors. The suppression of the hot-electron effect via electronic thermal transport to attached cooling fins is investigated both experimentally, theoretically and numerically. The numerical technique turns out to be a useful tool for the thermal design of superconducting electronics.
Among some of the current uses of dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are qubit readouts and sensors for probing the properties of quantum materials. We present a gradiometric niobium SQUID design with state-of-the-art sensitivity in the femtotesla range, which can be tuned to specific readout requirements. The sensor is a next-generation fractional SQUID with a tightly optimized input coil and a combination of various measures known for restraining parasitic resonances and other detrimental effects. Our design combines the practical usefulness of well-defined pickup loops for well-defined imaging kernel and tunable probing applications with a fractionalization approach to reduce undesired inductances. In addition, our modeling predicts small dimensions for these planar sensors. These features make them of relevance for material studies and for the detection of magnetic fields in small volumes, e.g., as part of a cryogenic scanning quantum imaging apparatus for efficient diagnostics and quantum device readouts. This manuscript will benefit scientists and engineers working on quantum-computing technologies by clarifying potential general misconceptions about dc SQUID optimization alongside the introduction of the flexible compact dc SQUID design.
We describe a low-noise, two-stage dc Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) amplifier that is designed for applications requiring high bandwidth and dynamic range. The output signal of a low-noise SQUID in the input stage coherently modulates a series array of identical SQUIDs in the output stage via a common modulation line. The input stage is designed so its output signal does not produce multiple modulation periods in the output stage. The output stage is designed to have sufficient gain so the output noise is dominated by the amplified noise of the input SQUID and exceeds the noise of a preamplifier in the room temperature readout electronics. The SQUID amplifier may therefore be operated without flux modulation or any impedance matching network, resulting in a large dynamic range and high bandwidth.
We describe a new dc-superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) circuit of the FM type, which has a large coefficient for converting an applied magnetic flux into a frequency of MHz band or a lower band. The circuit consists of a SQUID amplifier composed of two stages, formed by a superconducting weak link and two dc-SQUID elements with nonhysteretic characteristics. In the first stage, the weak link and dc-SQUID elements are connected in parallel and operated by a common bias voltage. Since the respective elements oscillate with high frequencies by the ac Josephson effect, the two frequencies interact with each other, so that, the first stage generates a beat signal of a lower frequency. In the second stage, the other dc-SQUID element with a intrinsic flux gain enhances the beat signal generated during the first stage. A theoretical analysis of the circuit with computer simulation shows that the beat frequency is a periodical function of the magnetic flux, and the SQUID amplifier with two stages can improve the flux sensitivity.