Title :
A hybrid SQUID gradiometer with 3-dimensional thin-film pick-up coils fabricated using an excimer laser
Author :
Tsukada, Keiji ; Komuro, Takanori ; Higuchi, Masanori ; Adachi, Akira ; Kado, Hisashi
Author_Institution :
Superconducting Sensor Lab., Chiba, Japan
Abstract :
A compact hybrid superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) gradiometer consisting of a coaxial pick-up coil with a superconducting Nb thin-film and a square double-washer dc-SQUID is developed. To make the pick-up coils, a 3-dimensional thin-film patterning technique is developed using an excimer laser. The gradiometer operates with flux locked loop electronics, a low-noise amplifier, and a high-speed (1 MHz) phase-sensitive detector. This gradiometer is sensitive to levels as low as 9 fT//spl radic/Hz.<>
Keywords :
SQUIDs; biological techniques and instruments; biomagnetism; laser beam applications; magnetometers; pick-ups; 3D thin-film pick-up coils; Nb; biomagnetic measurements; coaxial pick-up coil; excimer laser patterning; flux locked loop electronics; high sensitivity; high-speed phase-sensitive detector; hybrid SQUID gradiometer; low-noise amplifier; square double-washer DC-SQUID; superconducting Nb thin-film; Coaxial components; Interference; Low-noise amplifiers; Niobium; SQUIDs; Superconducting coils; Superconducting devices; Superconducting thin films; Thin film devices; Transistors;
Journal_Title :
Electron Device Letters, IEEE
