Higher Order HTSC Gradiometer for Measurements in Unshielded Environment

Author

Seidel, Paul ; Becker, Christoph ; Steppke, Alexander ; Schinkel, Uwe ; Hoefer, Katharina ; Grosse, Veit ; Engmann, Sebastian ; Schmidl, Frank ; Redlich, Lutz

Author_Institution

Inst. fur Festkorperphys., Friedrich-Schiller-Univ. Jena, Jena, Germany

Volume

19

Issue

3

fYear

2009

fDate

6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

218

Lastpage

221

Abstract

We present a new higher order gradiometer layout for bicrystal Josephson junctions based on high-temperature superconducting thin films. Our single layer gradiometers are suitable for the simultaneous measurement of magnetic field gradients with different spatial orientations. The sophisticated technology for bicrystal Josephson junctions is combined with custom substrates with two crossing 30 degree grain boundaries. We present the technological challenges focusing on the low ohmic contact resistance using gold nanoparticles embedded in the thin film. The sensor performance is characterized using SQUID electronics. Its main parameters such as critical current and ICRN-product are compared with parameters of first order gradiometers on single 30 degree bicrystal substrates. Special emphasis is put on the optimization of the noise properties in unshielded environment.

Keywords

SQUIDs; high-temperature superconductors; magnetometers; nanoparticles; superconducting thin films; HTSC gradiometer; SQUID electronics; bicrystal Josephson junctions; gold nanoparticles; high-temperature superconducting thin films; magnetic field gradients; ohmic contact resistance; substrates; unshielded environment noise properties; Antennas; Josephson junction; SQUIDs; magnetic field measurement; noise;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TASC.2009.2018143

Filename

5153070