Ultra low noise YBCO nanoSQUIDs implementing nanowires

We present results on ultra low noise YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ nano Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (nanoSQUIDs). To realize such devices, we implemented high quality YBCO nanowires, working as weak links between two electrodes. We observe critical current modulation as a function of an externally applied magnetic field in the full temperature range below the transition temperature $T_C$. The white flux noise below 1 $\mu \Phi_0/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ at T = 8 K makes our nanoSQUIDs very attractive for the detection of small spin systems.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Appl. Phys. Lett. 25/01/201

Microwave losses in MgO, LaAlO3, and (La0.3Sr0.7)(Al0.65Ta0.35)O-3 dielectrics at low power and in the millikelvin temperature range

We have investigated both the temperature and the power dependence of microwave losses for various dielectrics commonly used as substrates for the growth of high critical temperature superconductor thin films. We present measurement of niobium superconducting lambda/2 coplanar waveguide resonators, fabricated on MgO, LaAlO3, and (La0.3Sr0.7)(Al0.65Ta0.35)O-3 (LSAT), at the millikelvin temperature range and at low input power. By comparing our results with the two-level system model, we have discriminated among different dominant loss mechanisms. LSAT has shown the best results as regards the dielectric losses in the investigated regimes

Cryogenic surface resistance of copper:Investigation of the impact of surface treatments for secondary electron yield reduction

The surface resistance of copper samples with an amorphous carbon (a-C) coating or with laser surface structuring, the surface treatments of choice for electron cloud suppression in critical cryogenic sectors of the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), has been measured for the first time at a cryogenic temperature using the quadrupole resonator at CERN. Three different frequencies of relevance for evaluating beam impedance effects, namely, 400, 800, and 1200 MHz, have been investigated. No significant increase in surface resistance is observed for the a-C coating, compared to plain copper. In the case of laser structuring, the surface resistance depends on the direction of the surface currents relative to the laser-engraved groove pattern. The increase is minimal for parallel patterns, but in the perpendicular case the surface resistance increases considerably. Radio frequency (rf) heating from wake losses would then also increase in the HL-LHC case; however, the reduction in the power deposited onto the cold surfaces thanks to electron cloud suppression would still outweigh this effect

Microwave losses in YBCO coplanar waveguide resonators at low power and millikelvin range

We have investigated the temperature dependence of microwave losses in the low-power limit and millikelvin temperature range of a thin-film YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) λ/2 coplanar waveguide resonator patterned on a (La0.3Sr0.7) (Al0.65Ta0.35)O3 (LSAT) substrate covered by a CeO2 seed layer. The unloaded quality factor is mainly governed by the surface resistance of the YBCO film and the dielectric losses caused by resonant absorption due to a bath of two-level fluctuators in the dielectrics. The value of the unloaded quality factor at 20 mK and low power, i.e., Q0∼2000, allows for the realization of YBCO microwave quantum circuits implementing biepitaxial grain-boundary Josephson junctions

Toward ultra high magnetic field sensitivity YBa2Cu3O7 - δ nanowire based superconducting quantum interference devices

We report on measurements of YBa2Cu3O7- ? nanowire based Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (nanoSQUIDs) directly coupled to an in-plane pick-up loop. The pick-up loop, which is coupled predominantly via kinetic inductance to the SQUID loop, allows for a significant increase of the effective area of our devices. Its role is systematically investigated and the increase in the effective area is successfully compared with numerical simulations. Large effective areas, together with the ultra low white flux noise below 1 ? ? 0 / Hz, make our nanoSQUIDs very attractive as magnetic field sensors

Toward ultra high magnetic field sensitivity YBa2Cu3O7 - δ nanowire based superconducting quantum interference devices

We report on measurements of YBa2Cu3O7- ? nanowire based Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (nanoSQUIDs) directly coupled to an in-plane pick-up loop. The pick-up loop, which is coupled predominantly via kinetic inductance to the SQUID loop, allows for a significant increase of the effective area of our devices. Its role is systematically investigated and the increase in the effective area is successfully compared with numerical simulations. Large effective areas, together with the ultra low white flux noise below 1 ? ? 0 / Hz, make our nanoSQUIDs very attractive as magnetic field sensors

Improved noise performance of ultrathin YBCO Dayem bridge nanoSQUIDs

We have fabricated YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) nano superconducting quantum interference devices (nanoSQUIDs), realized in Dayem bridge configuration, on films with thickness down to 10 nm. The devices, which have not been protected by a Au capping layer during the nanopatterning, show modulations of the critical current as a function of the externally applied magnetic field from 300 mK up to the critical temperature of the nanobridges. The absence of the Au shunting layer and the enhancement of the sheet resistance in ultrathin films lead to very large voltage modulations and transfer functions, which make these nanoSQUIDs highly sensitive devices. Indeed, by using bare YBCO nanostructures, we have revealed an upper limit for the intrinsic white flux noise level S-Phi,w(1/2

Noise Properties of YBCO Nanostructures

Voltage noise measurements on close to optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-delta nanostructures have been performed. The measured resistance noise at temperature T = 96 K (above critical temperature T-C = 85 K) shows a quadratic dependence on the bias current, e.g., the voltage power spectral density S-V alpha V-2. Moreover, the normalized voltage noise S-V/V-2 is inversely proportional to the device volume. This is a clear indication that the noise is the result of an ensemble of independent resistive fluctuators, evenly distributed within the sample volume. For our structures, we obtain a product S-V/V-2 x Vol. = const. approximate to 6 x 10-(33) m(3)/Hz resulting in a Hooge\u27s parameter 3.4 x 10(-4), which is among the lowest reported in literature. At lower temperature, T = 2 K (well below TC) the total voltage fluctuations are given by the combined effect of critical current fluctuations and resistance fluctuations. For the critical current noise, we obtain a product S-I/IC2 x Vol. = const. approximate to 6x10(-32) m(3)/Hz. The larger value of the relative critical current noise is most probably due to the fact that the critical current is determined by edge effects whereas the resistance is given by the total volume of the device