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@ARTICLE{Foroughi:861560,
author = {Foroughi, F. and Mol, J.-M. and Müller, T. and Kirtley, J.
R. and Moler, K. A. and Bluhm, Hendrik},
title = {{A} micro-{SQUID} with dispersive readout for magnetic
scanning microscopy},
journal = {Applied physics reviews},
volume = {112},
number = {25},
issn = {1077-3118},
address = {New York, NY},
publisher = {AIP74335},
reportid = {FZJ-2019-02011},
pages = {252601 -},
year = {2018},
abstract = {We have designed and characterized a micro-SQUID with
dispersive readout for use in low temperature scanning probe
microscopy systems. The design features a capacitively
shunted RF SQUID with a tunable resonance frequency from 5
to 12 GHz, micrometer spatial resolution, and integrated
superconducting coils for local application of magnetic
fields. The SQUID is operated as a nonlinear oscillator with
a flux- and power-dependent resonance frequency.
Measurements for device characterization and noise
benchmarking were carried out at 4 K. The measured flux
noise above 10 kHz at 4 K is 80 nΦ0 Hz−1∕2 at a
bandwidth of 200 MHz. Estimations suggest that one can
benefit from parametric gain based on inherent nonlinearity
of the Josephson junction and reduce the flux noise to 30
nΦ0Hz–1∕2 at 100 mK, which corresponds to 10.6
μBHz–1∕2 for a magnetic moment located at the center of
the pickup loop.Measuring the magnetic response of
mesoscopic samples or mapping it vs. position for extended
systems is effective methods for revealing the fundamental
quantum properties of condensed matter systems. Over the
past few decades, many advanced magnetic imaging schemes
have been developed, including magnetic force microscopy,1
scanning Hall probe microscopy,2 superconducting
interference devices (SQUIDs),3,4 and NV center based
magnetometry.5 The high sensitivity, low back action, and
low power dissipation of SQUIDs make them attractive for
many types of low temperature experiments. One classic
example is the central role of scanning SQUID microscopy in
tests of pairing symmetry of high-Tc cuprate
superconductors.6 Other prominent applications are the
thermodynamic characteristics of persistent currents in
normal metal rings7 and proof of edge states in topological
insulators in the quantum spin Hall regime.8A key
performance for a SQUID is its flux sensitivity. Parametric
amplification has been harnessed in nano-SQUIDs based on
aluminum junctions9,10 in order to reduce the flux noise
down to 30 nΦ0Hz–1∕2 with a bandwidth exceeding
60 MHz.10 Recent studies on parametric amplifiers and
dispersive readout of superconducting qubits also harness
the nonlinearity of the Josephson junction to boost
sensitivity.11–13In scanning SQUID microscopy, signal
sources often behave dipole-like, such as superconducting
vortices in mesoscopic dots or currents in mesoscopic rings.
Smaller SQUIDs provide better coupling to smaller samples
which leads to higher spin sensitivity3,14 as the magnetic
field of a dipole decreases with 1/r3. Various approaches
have been pursued to reduce the size. The smallest
nano-SQUID to date has been fabricated by evaporating Nb or
Pb15 onto the apex of a sharp quartz tip reaching a loop
diameter of below nm and a spin sensitivity of 0.38
μBHz−1/2 at tens of kHz bandwidth. Compared to such
size-optimized devices, micro-SQUIDs fabricated using a
standard Nb technique have the advantage of on-chip field
coils and modulation coils,14 and can be operated at 4 K
allowing for a wide range of applications. However, these
come at the cost of larger pick-up loops of a few microns
and a resulting poorer spin sensitivity of 200 μBHz−1/2
for a magnetic moment located at the center of the pickup
loop.The limitation of large pickup loops was previously
only overcome by devices with pickup loops defined by the
focused-ion-beam,16 but has recently also been achieved by
improvements in lithography and shown to offer better
spatial resolution as well.17 Here, we present a scanning
micro-SQUID which is based on the same fabrication
technology incorporating another major advancement. Our
design exploits the parametric amplification based on
nonlinearities of the SQUID to boost sensitivity. The
combination of a smaller pickup loop and parametric
amplification of the signal leads to better spin sensitivity
(10.6 μBHz−1/2) and higher bandwidth (200 MHz) compared
to traditional DC micro-SQUIDs in which the flux sensitivity
is mainly limited by internal dissipation.Our devices were
fabricated at Hypres Inc. using planarized Nb/AlOx/Nb
trilayer Josephson junction technology, including two
planarized Nb layers with approximately 0.8 μm minimum
feature size. The SQUID consists of a superconducting ring
shunted by one Josephson junction with a designed critical
current of 20 μA [Fig. 1(a)]. With this geometry, the SQUID
is gradiometric, i.e., the effect of any homogeneous
background magnetic field approximately cancels out. The
smallest pickup loops implemented have an inner (outer)
diameter of 1 μm (2 μm). The superconducting loop is
shunted by an on-chip parallel-plate capacitor with
amorphous silicon dioxide as dielectric which was designed
to have a capacitance of 80 pF. The superconducting loop
and the capacitor form a resonator with a flux dependent
resonance frequency from 5 to 12 GHz. The pickup loops are
placed on opposite corners of the parallel-plate capacitor
at a distance of about 450 μm so that one loop can be
located in close proximity to the sample while the other is
kept far away from it. External fields can be applied to the
sample by local single-turn field coils situated around each
pickup loop. The field coils are fully integrated into the
chip layout and can also be used to bias the SQUID at its
most sensitive point. Compared to using additional
modulation coils,14 this approach has the advantage of
reducing the total device inductance, which leads to a
higher sensitivity.18 In a scanning microscope, the field
coil at the rear end (away from the sample) can be used to
bias the SQUID or operate it in flux feedback such that
resulting stray fields will not act on the sample, apart
from a weak screening current through the pickup loop. The
effective diameter of each coil is 7.5 μm, resulting in a
mutual inductance of about 0.34 Φ0/mA (for the smallest
pickup loop). The SQUID resonator is connected by an on-chip
Z0 = 50 Ω coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line to
the bonding pads. The two field coils are connected by two
smaller CPWs to the bottom edge bonding pads [Fig. 1(c)],
ending in two parallel-stripline waveguides running
alongside the edges of the capacitor towards the respective
field coils. Based on estimations, it should thus be
possible to apply high frequency signals of at least several
GHz to SQUID and sample.},
cin = {PGI-11 / JARA-FIT},
ddc = {530},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)PGI-11-20170113 / $I:(DE-82)080009_20140620$},
pnm = {144 - Controlling Collective States (POF3-144)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF3-144},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
UT = {WOS:000435987400035},
doi = {10.1063/1.5030489},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/861560},
}