On the coupling of magnetic moments to superconducting quantum interference devices

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how magnetic moments couple to SQUIDs by calculating the flux coupling factor using numerical simulations and models, considering various geometries and regimes, to improve understanding of magnetic sensing at small scales.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive numerical approach to calculate the coupling factor for different SQUID geometries, including finite width and constrictions, and compares these with analytical models.

Findings

Effective loop size improves model accuracy for thin, narrow loops.

Simulation results match analytical expressions in the far-field regime.

Constrictions in SQUID arms significantly affect coupling efficiency.

Abstract

We investigate the coupling factor $\phi_\mu$ that quantifies the magnetic flux $\Phi$ per magnetic moment $\mu$ of a point-like magnetic dipole that couples to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Representing the dipole by a current-carrying loop, the reciprocity of mutual inductances of SQUID and loop provides a way of calculating $\phi_\mu(\vec{r}, \vec{e}_\mu)$ vs.~position $\vec{r}$ and orientation $\vec{e}_\mu$ of the dipole anywhere in space from the magnetic field $B(\vec{r})$ produced by a supercurrent circulating in the SQUID loop. We use numerical simulations based on London and Ginzburg-Landau theory to calculate $\phi_\mu$ from the supercurrent density distributions in various SQUID geometries. We treat the far-field regime ($r\gtrsim a=$ inner size of the SQUID loop) with the dipole placed on the symmetry axis of circular or square shaped loops. We compare expressions for $\phi_\mu$ from filamentary loop models with simulation results for loops with finite width $w$ (outer size $A>a$), thickness $d$ and London penetration depth $\lambda_L$ and show that for thin ($d\ll a$) and narrow ($w < a$) loops the introduction of an effective loop size $a_{\rm eff}$ in the filamentary loop-model expressions results in agreement with simulations. For a dipole placed in the center of the loop, simulations provide an expression $\phi_\mu(a,A,d,\lambda_L)$ that covers a wide parameter range. In the near-field regime (dipole centered at small distance $z$ above one SQUID arm) only coupling to a single strip representing the SQUID arm has to be considered. Here, we compare simulations with an analytical expression derived for a homogeneous current density distribution, which yields excellent agreement for $\lambda_L>w,d$. Moreover, we analyze $\phi_\mu$ provided by the introduction of a constriction in the SQUID arm below the magnetic dipole.