SQUID Measuring Systems

The working group 7.63 develops measuring systems and techniques based on superconducting and conventional magnetic field sensors for application in biomedicine, non-destructive evaluation and metrology.  Furthermore, measuring equipment for the characterization of superconducting sensors is also developed in this working group.

• Measuring systems for operation and characterization of SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices).
• Measuring systems for complex superconducting sensor circuitries, e.g. NEMS/NanoSQUID/SQUID amplifier combination.
• Nano- and micro-sized SQUID sensors for mT-applications in cooperation with the department 2.4 and the working group 7.22 e.g. based on Nb/HfTi/­Nb-Josephson junctions.
• Magneto-optical scanning technique based on conventional magnetic sensors - for the characterization of thin film solar cell samples.

• Characterization of micro und nanoSQUIDs, fabricated using different technologies and developed at PTB or by external partners (NPL, NIM, INRIM)
• Training courses available for the correct handling of superconducting sensors, or SQUID characterization.

[1] S. Bechstein, C. Köhn, D. Drung, J.-H. Strom, O. Kieler, V. Morosh and T. Schurig, http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6668/aa557f, Investigation of nanoSQUID designs for practical applications, Supercond. Sci. Technol. 30 (2017) 034007 (9pp)

[2] S. Bechstein, F. Ruede, D. Drung, J.-H. Storm, O. F. Kieler, J. Kohlmann, T. Weimann, and T. Schurig, HfTi-NanoSQUID Gradiometers with High Linearity, Applied Physics Letters 106, 072601 (2015)

[3] S. Bechstein, F. Ruede, D. Drung, J.-H. Storm, C. Köhn, O. F. Kieler, J. Kohlmann, T. Weimann, T. Patel, Bo Li, D. Cox, J.C. Gallop, L. Hao and T. Schurig, Design and fabrication of coupled nanoSQUIDs and NEMS, IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., vol. 25, No. 3, June 2015

[4] Th. Schurig, Making SQUIDs a practical tool for quantum detection and material characterization in the micro- and nanoscale, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 568 (2014) 032015

[5] S. Bechstein, A. Kirste, D. Drung, M. Regin, O. Kazakova, J. Gallop, L. Hao, D. Cox, and T. Schurig, Investigation of Material Effects With Micro-Sized SQUID Sensors, IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., vol. 23, No. 3, June 2013

[6] F. Ruede, S. Bechstein, L. Hao, C. Aßmann, T. Schurig, J. Gallop, O. Kazakova, J. Beyer, D. Drung, Readout System for NanoSQUID Sensors Using a SQUID Amplifier, IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 2011, vol. 21, No. 3, 408-411

[7] S. Bechstein, I.-S. Kim, D. Drung, I. Novikov, and Th. Schurig, Moderately shielded high-Tc SQUID system for rat MCG, EUCAS 2009, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 234 (2010) 042003