Evaluation of Josephson Junction Parameter Dispersion Effects in Arrays of HTS SQUIDs

Abstract

We report on the experimental evaluation of dispersion effects on superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) arrays made with high-temperature superconductor technology. The dispersion of Josephson junction parameters not only results in different operational temperature ranges but also in a flux shift of the voltage versus flux response of the SQUID. Another contribution to the phase shift originates from unbalanced inductances of each branch of the SQUID loop. Measurements show that both contributions can be discriminated. Optimal operation of SQUID arrays is obtained in principle only when these self-induced fluxes are negligible. Degradation of the response is more important when the involved currents are larger, i.e., at lower temperature. We compensated these phase shifts for an array of a few SQUIDs connected in series by direct current injection in one of the branches of each SQUID, thereby recovering the characteristic “antipeak” response. This demonstrates that in the lower temperature range of SQUID operation, phase shifts are mainly responsible for the degradation of the SQUID array response.