(Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices)

SQUIDs

By Agnieszka Czeszumska

Talk Outline
Superconductivity Josephson Tunneling Phase of electron pairs DC SQUID Laboratory Setup Applications

Why SQUIDs?
Can detect extremely small magnetic fields For example, read out TES device

Superconductivity
Below certain temperature: Resistanceless supercurrent Meissner effect

Superconductivity Explained BCS Theory

Electron lattice interaction Cooper pairs Energy Gap Coherence Flux Quantization

Superconductivity Explained BCS Theory

Electron lattice interaction Cooper pairs Energy Gap Coherence Flux Quantization
Two coupled electrons with opposite momenta and spins Boson-like Does not scatter resistanceless Energetically favorable in superconducting state

Superconductivity Explained BCS Theory

Electron lattice interaction Cooper pairs Energy Gap Coherence Flux Quantization

Superconductivity Explained BCS Theory

Electron lattice interaction Cooper pairs Energy Gap Coherence Flux Quantization
Can calculate phase and amplitude at any point on the wave

Coherence length
One wave equation describes all Cooper pairs:

Superconductivity Explained BCS Theory

Electron lattice interaction Cooper pairs Energy Gap Coherence Flux Quantization
Magnetic flux around a closed superconducting current loop must be quantized

One fluxon

Josephson Tunneling
Josephson Junction small gap between two superconductors Cooper pairs can tunnel Critical current

supercurrent

Phase difference across the junction

Change in Phase
Due to: Current Magnetic field Josephson Junctions

=P

DC SQUID
Superconductor Current loop Two Josephson Junctions

How it works
Phase change due to external magnetic field Current flow Voltage change

Due to B field

Due to junctions

Must be quantized

How it works

Aiding Detection
Gradiometer, Magnetometer, Voltometer

Lab Setup Two Stage

Characterisation
I V curve V Phi curve

Other Applications
Beyond X-Ray Astrophysics... Medical imaging (MEG) Geology

References
A.C. Rose-Innes and E.H. Rhoderick, Introduction to Superconductivity, 2nd ed., 1978 Kittel, Charles, Introduction to Solid State Physics, 6th ed., 1986 Clarke, John, SQUIDs, Scientific American (August 1994) STAR Cryoelectronics, Manual SQUID Magnetometry, http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/thesis/thesis/node41.html http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/supcon.html#c1 Thank you Mark and Prof. McCammon for answering my random questions Special thanks to Emily Barrentine for help and resources