No Arabic abstract
We develop a two-dimensional (2D) Superconducting Quantum Interference Filter (SQIF) array based on recently introduced high-linearity tri-junction bi-SQUIDs. Our bi-SQUID SQIF array design is based on a tight integration of individual bi- SQUID cells sharing inductances with adjacent cells. We provide extensive computer simulations, analysis and experimental measurements, in which we explore the phase dynamics and linearity of the array voltage response. The non-uniformity in inductances of the bi-SQUIDs produces a pronounced zero-field single antipeak in the voltage response. The anti-peak linearity and size can be optimized by varying the critical current of the additional junction of each bi-SQUID. The layout implementation of the tight 2D array integration leads to a distinct geometrical diamond shape formed by the merged dual bi-SQUID cells. Different size 2D arrays are fabricated using standard HYPRES niobium 4.5 kA/cm2 fabrication process. The measured linearity, power gain, and noise properties will be analyzed for different array sizes and the results will be compared with circuit simulations. We will discuss a design approach for the electrically small magnetic field antenna and low-noise amplifiers with high bandwidth based on these 2D bi-SQUID SQIF arrays. The results from this work will be used to design chips densely and completely covered in bi-SQUIDs that has optimized parameters such as linearity and power gain.
The Transition-Edge Sensors (TES) is a mature, high-resolution x-ray spectrometer technology that provides a much higher efficiency than dispersive spectrometers such as gratings and crystal spectrometers. As larger arrays are developed, time-division multiplexing schemes operating at MHz frequencies are being replaced by microwave SQUID multiplexers using frequency-division multiplexing at GHz frequencies. However, the multiplexing factor achievable with microwave SQUIDs is limited by the high slew rate on the leading edge of x-ray pulses. In this paper, we propose a new multiplexing scheme for high-slew-rate TES x-ray calorimeters: the spread-spectrum SQUID multiplexer, which has the potential to enable higher multiplexing factors, especially in applications with lower photon arrival rates.
Inductance is a key parameter when optimizing the performance of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers made from the high temperature superconductor YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$ (YBCO) because lower SQUID inductance $L$ leads to lower flux noise, but also weaker coupling to the pickup loop. In order to optimize the SQUID design, we combine inductance simulations and measurements to extract the different inductance contributions, and measure the dependence of the transfer function $V_{Phi}$ and flux noise $S_Phi^{1/2}$ on $L$. A comparison between two samples shows that the kinetic inductance contribution varies strongly with film quality, hence making inductance measurements a crucial part of the SQUID characterization. Thanks to the improved estimation of the kinetic inductance contribution, previously found discrepancies between theoretical estimates and measured values of $V_{Phi}$ and $S_Phi^{1/2}$ could to a large extent be avoided. We then use the measurements and improved theoretical estimations to optimize the SQUID geometry and reach a noise level of $S_B^{1/2}$ = 44 fT/$sqrt{textrm{Hz}}$ for the best SQUID magnetometer with a 8.6 mm $times$ 9.2 mm directly coupled pickup loop. Lastly, we demonstrate a method for reliable one-time sensor calibration that is constant in a temperature range of several kelvin despite the presence of temperature dependent coupling contributions, such as the kinetic inductance. The found variability of the kinetic inductance contribution has implications not only for the design of YBCO SQUID magnetometers, but for all narrow linewidth SQUID-based devices operated close to their critical temperature.
We present a wafer trimming technique for producing superconducting micro-resonator arrays with highly uniform frequency spacing. With the light-emitting diode (LED) mapper technique demonstrated previously, we first map the measured resonance frequencies to the physical resonators. Then, we fine-tune each resonators frequency by lithographically trimming a small length, calculated from the deviation of the measured frequency from its design value, from the interdigitated capacitor. We demonstrate this technique on a 127-resonator array made of titanium-nitride (TiN) and show that the uniformity of frequency spacing is greatly improved. The array yield in terms of frequency collisions improves from 84% to 97%, while the quality factors and noise properties are unaffected. The wafer trimming technique provides an easy-to-implement tool to improve the yield and multiplexing density of large resonator arrays, which is important for various applications in photon detection and quantum computing.
The concept of the radio-frequency superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (RF-SNSPD) allows frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) of the bias and readout lines of several SNSPDs. Using this method, a multi-pixel array can be operated by only one feed line. Consequently, the system complexity as well as the heat load is significantly reduced. To allocate many pixels into a small bandwidth the quality factor of each device is crucial. In this paper, we present an improved RF-SNSPD design. This new design enables a simple tuning of the quality factor as well as the resonant frequency. With a two-pixel device we have demonstrated the operation without crosstalk between the detectors and showed the time, spatial and photon number resolution. Thereby a single pixel requires only a bandwidth of 14 MHz.
The European Research Council has recently funded HOLMES, a project with the aim of performing a calorimetric measurement of the electron neutrino mass measuring the energy released in the electron capture decay of 163Ho. The baseline for HOLMES are microcalorimeters coupled to Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) read out with rf-SQUIDs, for microwave multiplexing purposes. A promising alternative solution is based on superconducting microwave resonators, that have undergone rapid development in the last decade. These detectors, called Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs), are inherently multiplexed in the frequency domain and suitable for even larger-scale pixel arrays, with theoretical high energy resolution and fast response. The aim of our activity is to develop arrays of microresonator detectors for X-ray spectroscopy and suitable for the calorimetric measurement of the energy spectra of 163Ho. Superconductive multilayer films composed by a sequence of pure Titanium and stoichiometric TiN layers show many ideal properties for MKIDs, such as low loss, large sheet resistance, large kinetic inductance, and tunable critical temperature $T_c$. We developed Ti/TiN multilayer microresonators with $T_c$ within the range from 70 mK to 4.5 K and with good uniformity. In this contribution we present the design solutions adopted, the fabrication processes and the characterization results.