(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, [Link] [Link] Thank you Mark and Prof. McCammon for answering my random questions Special thanks to Emily Barrentine for help and resources