Title :
A high-temperature superconducting receiver for low-frequency radio waves
Author :
Reagor, D. ; Yan Fan ; Mombourquette, C. ; Quanxi Jia ; Stolarczyk, L.
Author_Institution :
Los Alamos Nat. Lab., NM, USA
Abstract :
We have developed a receiver for low-frequency radio waves using high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The primary application of such a receiver is to communicate in underground areas where the overburden results in significant losses at the usual radio frequencies. The receiver constructed consists of a SQUID, a small dewar, control electronics, and a battery pack. The SQUID was fabricated in our laboratory using an edge junction technology, discussed in previous publications. For this work we increased the effective area by including a standard galvanically coupled pickup loop. We have investigated background noise spectra and found that the low noise door of the SQUIDs can be fully utilized in the receiver, provided that the signals be encoded with a bandwidth narrower than the 60 Hz spacing between powerline harmonics. The most significant advantage of SQUIDs for this application is that they allow the compact construction of three-axis receivers that are necessary to overcome a dominant source of vibrational or motional noise.
Keywords :
SQUIDs; electromagnetic wave propagation; high-temperature superconductors; radio receivers; superconducting device noise; SQUID; background noise spectra; battery pack; control electronics; dewar; edge junction technology; effective area; galvanically coupled pickup loop; high-temperature superconducting receiver; loss; low-frequency radio waves; underground communication; Background noise; Batteries; High temperature superconductors; Interference; Laboratories; Radio frequency; Receivers; SQUIDs; Superconducting device noise; Superconducting devices;
Journal_Title :
Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on