High performance magnetic field sensor based on Superconducting Quantum Interference Filters

TL;DR

This paper presents a high-performance magnetic field sensor based on high-T_c superconducting quantum interference filters, demonstrating high precision and low hysteresis suitable for absolute magnetic field measurements.

Contribution

The development and experimental validation of a high-T_c SQIF device capable of precise absolute magnetic field sensing with minimal hysteresis.

Findings

Sensor detects Earth's magnetic field with high accuracy.

Low hysteresis (<5%) enhances measurement reliability.

Device operates effectively at high temperatures.

Abstract

We have developed an absolute magnetic field sensor using Superconducting Quantum Interference Filter (SQIF) made of high-T_c grain boundary Josephson junctions. The device shows the typical magnetic field dependent voltage response V(B), which is sharp delta-like dip in the vicinity of zero magnetic field. When the SQIF is cooled with magnetic shield, and then the shield is removed, the presence of the ambient magnetic field induces a shift of the dip position from B_0 ~ 0 to a value B ~ B_1, which is about the average value of the earth magnetic field, at our latitude. When the SQIF is cooled in the ambient field without shielding, the dip is first found at B ~ B_1, and the further shielding of the SQIF results in a shift of the dip towards B_0 ~ 0. The low hysteresis observed in the sequence of experiments (less than 5% of B_1) makes SQIFs suitable for high precision measurements of the absolute magnetic field. The experimental results are discussed in view of potential applications of high-T_c SQIFs in magnetometry.