No Arabic abstract
Scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy is a magnetic imaging technique combining high-field sensitivity with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. State-of-the-art SQUID-on-tip probes are now playing an important role in mapping correlation phenomena, such as superconductivity and magnetism, which have recently been observed in two-dimensional van der Waals materials. Here, we demonstrate a scanning probe that combines the magnetic and thermal imaging provided by an on-tip SQUID with the tip-sample distance control and topographic contrast of a non-contact atomic force microscope (AFM). We pattern the nanometer-scale SQUID, including its weak-link Josephson junctions, via focused ion beam milling at the apex of a cantilever coated with Nb, yielding a sensor with an effective diameter of 365 nm, field sensitivity of 9.5 $text{nT}/sqrt{text{Hz}}$ and thermal sensitivity of 620 $text{nK}/sqrt{text{Hz}}$, operating in magnetic fields up to 1.0 T. The resulting SQUID-on-lever is a robust AFM-like scanning probe that expands the reach of sensitive nanometer-scale magnetic and thermal imaging beyond what is currently possible.
We designed and fabricated a new type of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) susceptometers for magnetic imaging of quantum materials. The 2-junction SQUID sensors employ 3D Nb nano-bridges fabricated using electron beam lithography. The two counter-wound balanced pickup loops of the SQUID enable gradiometric measurement and they are surrounded by a one-turn field coil for susceptibility measurements. The smallest pickup loop of the SQUIDs were 1 ${mu}m$ in diameter and the flux noise was around 1 $mu{Phi}_0/sqrt{Hz}$ at 100 Hz. We demonstrate scanning magnetometry, susceptometry and current magnetometry on some test samples using these nano-SQUIDs.
In this work we present the results of an experiment to locally resolve the spin Seebeck effect in a high-quality Pt/YIG sample. We achieve this by employing a locally heated scanning thermal probe to generate a highly local non-equilibrium spin current. To support our experimental results, we also present a model based on the non-equilibrium thermodynamic approach which is in a good agreement with experimental findings. To further corroborate our results, we index the locally resolved spin Seebeck effect with that of the local magnetisation texture by MFM and correlate corresponding regions. We hypothesise that this technique allows imaging of magnetisation textures within the magnon diffusion length and hence characterisation of spin caloritronic materials at the nanoscale.
Scanning nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are gaining interest as highly sensitive microscopic magnetic and thermal characterization tools of quantum and topological states of matter and devices. Here we introduce a novel technique of collimated differential-pressure magnetron sputtering for versatile self aligned fabrication of SQUID on tip (SOT) nanodevices, which cannot be produced by conventional sputtering methods due to their diffusive, rather than the required directional point-source, deposition. The new technique provides access to a broad range of superconducting materials and alloys beyond the elemental superconductors employed in the existing thermal deposition methods, opening the route to greatly enhanced SOT characteristics and functionalities. Utilizing this method, we have developed MoRe SOT devices with sub-50 nm diameter, magnetic flux sensitivity of 1.2 $muPhi_0/Hz^{1/2}$ up to 3 T at 4.2 K, and thermal sensitivity better than 4 $mu K/Hz^{1/2}$ up to 5 T, about five times higher than any previous report, paving the way to nanoscale imaging of magnetic and spintronic phenomena and of dissipation mechanisms in previously inaccessible quantum states of matter.
Magnetic microscopy that combines nanoscale spatial resolution with picosecond scale temporal resolution uniquely enables direct observation of the spatiotemporal magnetic phenomena that are relevant to future high-speed, high-density magnetic storage and logic technologies. Magnetic microscopes that combine these metrics has been limited to facility-level instruments. To address this gap in lab-accessible spatiotemporal imaging, we develop a time-resolved near-field magnetic microscope based on magneto-thermal interactions. We demonstrate both magnetization and current density imaging modalities, each with spatial resolution that far surpasses the optical diffraction limit. In addition, we study the near-field and time-resolved characteristics of our signal and find that our instrument possesses a spatial resolution on the scale of 100 nm and a temporal resolution below 100 ps. Our results demonstrate an accessible and comparatively low-cost approach to nanoscale spatiotemporal magnetic microscopy in a table-top form to aid the science and technology of dynamic magnetic devices with complex spin textures.
We report a low temperature measurement technique and magnetization data of a quantum molecular spin, by implementing an on-chip SQUID technique. This technique enables the SQUID magnetometery in high magnetic fields, up to 7 Tesla. The main challenges and the calibration process are detailed. The measurement protocol is used to observe quantum tunneling jumps of the S=10 molecular magnet, Mn12-tBuAc. The effect of transverse field on the tunneling splitting for this molecular system is addressed as well.