Abstract
Direct Current Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (dc SQUIDs) are sensors for the detection of magnetic flux or any physical quantity that can be transformed into magnetic flux. They consist of a superconducting loop interrupted by two resistively shunted Josephson tunnel junctions. Typically operated at 4.2 K, they exhibit magnetic flux noise levels of the order of 1 μΦ0/Hz1/2, corresponding to a noise energy of 10−32 J/Hz1/2. They can be used for example as magnetometers, magnetic gradiometers, current sensors and voltmeters, susceptometers or (rf) amplifier. With their large bandwidth and flat frequency response ranging from dc to GHz, they are excellent suited for a wide variety of applications, such as e.g. biomagnetism and geophysical exploration to the detection of gravity waves and magnetic resonance.
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Notes
- 1.
The equivalent flux noise S 1/2 Φ is given by the measured voltage noise S 1/2 V and the transfer function V Φ as S 1/2 Φ = S 1/2 V /V Φ .
- 2.
Depending on the location on Earth and taking into account only the crustal contribution of the Earth’s magnetic field.
- 3.
In a 1 Hz bandwidth, the dynamic range can be calculated as DR = 20 * log(130µT/10fT/Hz1/2*crest factor). Taking a crest factor of 4 this results in DR = 190 dB > 30 Bit.
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The authors highly acknowledge Dr. S. Anders for careful proofreading and many stimulating discussions.
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Schmelz, M., Stolz, R. (2017). Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) Magnetometers. In: Grosz, A., Haji-Sheikh, M., Mukhopadhyay, S. (eds) High Sensitivity Magnetometers. Smart Sensors, Measurement and Instrumentation, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34070-8_10
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