Characterization of the Input Noise Sources of a dc SQUID

Abstract

From the theory of the intrinsic noise in a dc SQUID by Tesche and Clarke, we derive the expressions of the current and voltage input noise spectral densities in a dc SQUID current amplifier operated in a flux locked mode. The expected current and voltage noises are compared, at audio frequencies, with the experimental results obtained with a low noise dc SQUID in which the input load (resonant and not) and the operating temperature (1–4 K) are changed. In order to evaluate the input voltage noise, which is directly related to the current noise around the SQUID loop and is usually neglected, we have used as the input circuit a LC resonator with a very high quality factor (≈106). Both the voltage and current input noises exceed the expected values by the same factor of about 8. This means that the modulus the optimum source impedance of the SQUID amplifier is still in agreement with the value expected from the theory, which is approximately given by the product of the input coil inductance and the angular frequency. To explain the excess noise results, we propose a model in which the voltage and current input noises are due to a thermal magnetic noise source which is present near the SQUID.