Step edge grain boundary (GB) junctions and rf-SQUIDs have been made using pulsed laser deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O films on crystalline LaAlO3 substrates. The steps were developed using various ion-beam etching processes resulting in sharp and ramp type step structures. Sharp step based GB junctions showed behavior of serial junctions with resistively shunted junction (RSJ) -like I-V characteristics. The ramped type step structures resulted in relatively high critical current, Ic, junctions and noisy SQUIDs. The sharp steps resulted in low noise rf-SQUIDs with a noise level below 140 fT/Hz1/2 down to few Hz at 77 K while measured with conventional tank circuits. The Ic of the junctions and hence the operating temperature range of the SQUIDs made using sharp steps was controlled by both the step height and the junction widths. The junction properties of the SQUIDs were also characterized showing RSJ-like characteristics and magnetic field sensitivities correlated to that of the SQUIDs. Two major low and high background magnetic field sensitivities have been observed for our step edge junctions and the SQUIDs made on sharp steps. High quality step edge junctions with low magnetic field sensitivities made on clean sharp steps resulted in low I/f noise rf-SQUIDs proper for applications in unshielded environment

No abstract

Abstract-We have demonstrated and verified the basic feasibility of performing magnetocardiographic (MCG) measurements without magnetic shielding when using a first-order electronic gradiometer with our novel dielectric substrate resonator rf SQUID's. The setup at the operation site involved adjustment of the gradiometer's baseline length and adaptive balancing. Our experimental portable system was tested in three environments differing in the level of electromagnetic interference.

No abstract

SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) microscopes are versatile instruments for biosensing applications, in particular for magnetic nanoparticle detection in immunoassay experiments. We are developing a SQUID microscope based on an HTS rf SQUID magnetometer sensor with a substrate resonator. For the cryogenic setup , a configuration was realized in which the cryostat is continuously refilled and kept at a constant liquid nitrogen level by an isolated tube connection to a large liquid nitrogen reservoir. The SQUID is mounted on top of a sapphire finger, connected to the inner vessel of the stainless steel cryostat. The vacuum gap between cold SQUID and room temperature sample is adjusted by causing precise approach of a 50 µm thin sapphire window using a single fine thread wheel. We investigated possible sensing tip configurations and different sensor integration techniques in order to achieve an optimized design. A new scheme of coupling the rf SQUID from its back to a SrTiO 3 substrate resonator was adopted for the purpose of minimization of the sensor-to-sample spacing. By SQUID substrate thinning and washer size reduction, the optimum coupling conditions for back coupling were determined for different rf SQUID magnetometers prepared on LaAlO 3 and SrTiO 3 substrates. The SQUID microscope system is characterized with respect to its spatial resolution and its magnetic field noise. The SQUID microscope instrument will be used for magnetic nanoparticle marker detection.