4,840 research outputs found
Fabrication and analogue applications of nanoSQUIDs using Dayem bridge junctions
We report here recent work at the U.K. National Physical Laboratory on developing nanoscale SQUIDs using Dayem bridge Josephson junctions. The advantages are simplicity of fabrication, exceptional low-noise performance, toward the quantum limit, and a range of novel applications. Focused ion beam patterned Nb SQUID, possessing exceptionally low noise (∼200 nΦ0/Hz1/2 above 1 kHz), and operating above 4.2 K can be applied to measurement of nanoscale magnetic objects or coupled to nanoelectromechanical resonators, as well as single particle detection of photons, protons, and ions. The limited operating temperature range may be extended by exposing the Dayem bridges to carefully controlled ion beam implantation, leading to nonreversible changes in junction transition temperature.The work reported here was supported in part by the EMRP projects ‘MetNEMS’ NEW-08 and ‘BioQUART’SIB-06. The EMRP is jointly funded by the EMRP participating countries within EURAMET and the European Union
An Experiment and Detection Scheme for Cavity-based Cold Dark Matter Searches
A resonance detection scheme and some useful ideas for cavity-based searches
of light cold dark matter particles (such as axions) are presented, as an
effort to aid in the on-going endeavors in this direction as well as for future
experiments, especially in possibly developing a table-top experiment. The
scheme is based on our idea of a resonant detector, incorporating an integrated
Tunnel Diode (TD) and a GaAs HEMT/HFET (High Electron Mobility
Transistor/Heterogenous FET) transistor amplifier, weakly coupled to a cavity
in a strong transverse magnetic field. The TD-amplifier combination is
suggested as a sensitive and simple technique to facilitate resonance detection
within the cavity while maintaining excellent noise performance, whereas our
proposed Halbach magnet array could serve as a low-noise and permanent solution
replacing the conventional electromagnets scheme. We present some preliminary
test results which demonstrate resonance detection from simulated test signals
in a small optimal axion mass range with superior Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR).
Our suggested design also contains an overview of a simpler on-resonance dc
signal read-out scheme replacing the complicated heterodyne readout. We believe
that all these factors and our propositions could possibly improve or at least
simplify the resonance detection and read-out in cavity-based DM particle
detection searches (and other spectroscopy applications) and reduce the
complications (and associated costs), in addition to reducing the
electromagnetic interference and background.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure
Graphene-based Josephson junction single photon detector
We propose to use graphene-based Josephson junctions (gJjs) to detect single
photons in a wide electromagnetic spectrum from visible to radio frequencies.
Our approach takes advantage of the exceptionally low electronic heat capacity
of monolayer graphene and its constricted thermal conductance to its phonon
degrees of freedom. Such a system could provide high sensitivity photon
detection required for research areas including quantum information processing
and radio-astronomy. As an example, we present our device concepts for gJj
single photon detectors in both the microwave and infrared regimes. The dark
count rate and intrinsic quantum efficiency are computed based on parameters
from a measured gJj, demonstrating feasibility within existing technologies.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, and 1 table in the main tex
Emergence of superconductivity in the cuprates via a universal percolation process
A pivotal step toward understanding unconventional superconductors would be
to decipher how superconductivity emerges from the unusual normal state upon
cooling. In the cuprates, traces of superconducting pairing appear above the
macroscopic transition temperature , yet extensive investigation has led
to disparate conclusions. The main difficulty has been the separation of
superconducting contributions from complex normal state behaviour. Here we
avoid this problem by measuring the nonlinear conductivity, an observable that
is zero in the normal state. We uncover for several representative cuprates
that the nonlinear conductivity vanishes exponentially above , both with
temperature and magnetic field, and exhibits temperature-scaling characterized
by a nearly universal scale . Attempts to model the response with the
frequently evoked Ginzburg-Landau theory are unsuccessful. Instead, our
findings are captured by a simple percolation model that can also explain other
properties of the cuprates. We thus resolve a long-standing conundrum by
showing that the emergence of superconductivity in the cuprates is dominated by
their inherent inhomogeneity
Spin injection and spin accumulation in all-metal mesoscopic spin valves
We study the electrical injection and detection of spin accumulation in
lateral ferromagnetic metal-nonmagnetic metal-ferromagnetic metal (F/N/F) spin
valve devices with transparent interfaces. Different ferromagnetic metals,
permalloy (Py), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), are used as electrical spin
injectors and detectors. For the nonmagnetic metal both aluminium (Al) and
copper (Cu) are used. Our multi-terminal geometry allows us to experimentally
separate the spin valve effect from other magneto resistance signals such as
the anomalous magneto resistance (AMR) and Hall effects. We find that the AMR
contribution of the ferromagnetic contacts can dominate the amplitude of the
spin valve effect, making it impossible to observe the spin valve effect in a
'conventional' measurement geometry. In a 'non local' spin valve measurement we
are able to completely isolate the spin valve signal and observe clear spin
accumulation signals at T=4.2 K as well as at room temperature (RT). For
aluminum we obtain spin relaxation lengths (lambda_{sf}) of 1.2 mu m and 600 nm
at T=4.2 K and RT respectively, whereas for copper we obtain 1.0 mu m and 350
nm. The spin relaxation times tau_{sf} in Al and Cu are compared with theory
and results obtained from giant magneto resistance (GMR), conduction electron
spin resonance (CESR), anti-weak localization and superconducting tunneling
experiments. The spin valve signals generated by the Py electrodes (alpha_F
lambda_F=0.5 [1.2] nm at RT [T=4.2 K]) are larger than the Co electrodes
(alpha_F lambda_F=0.3 [0.7] nm at RT [T=4.2 K]), whereas for Ni (alpha_F
lambda_F<0.3 nm at RT and T=4.2 K) no spin signal is observed. These values are
compared to the results obtained from GMR experiments.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, submitted to PR
Detecting Current Noise with a Josephson Junction in the Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling Regime
We discuss the use of a hysteretic Josephson junction to detect current
fluctuations with frequencies below the plasma frequency of the junction. These
adiabatic fluctuations are probed by switching measurements observing the
noise-affected average rate of macroscopic quantum tunneling of the detector
junction out of its zero-voltage state. In a proposed experimental scheme,
frequencies of the noise are limited by an on-chip filtering circuit. The third
cumulant of current fluctuations at the detector is related to an asymmetry of
the switching rates.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figures. To appear in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
in the proceedings of the ULTI conference organized in Lammi, Finland (2006
Development and operation of the twin radio frequency single electron transistor for solid state qubit readout
Ultra-sensitive detectors and readout devices based on the radio frequency
single electron transistor (rf-SET) combine near quantum-limited sensitivity
with fast operation. Here we describe a twin rf-SET detector that uses two
superconducting rf-SETs to perform fast, real-time cross-correlated
measurements in order to distinguish sub-electron signals from charge noise on
microsecond time-scales. The twin rf-SET makes use of two tuned resonance
circuits to simultaneously and independently address both rf-SETs using
wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and a single cryogenic amplifier. We
focus on the operation of the twin rf-SET as a charge detector and evaluate the
cross-talk between the two resonance circuits. Real time suppression of charge
noise is demonstrated by cross correlating the signals from the two rf-SETs.
For the case of simultaneous operation, the rf-SETs had charge sensitivities of
and .Comment: Updated version, including new content. Comments most welcome:
[email protected] or [email protected]
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