High-Tc gradiometric superconducting quantum interference device and its incorporation into a single-layer gradiometer

Abstract

We describe a first-order gradiometric dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and its incorporation into a first-order directly coupled single-layer gradiometer. The gradiometric SQUIDs were fabricated from a single layer of YBa2Cu3O7, with a silicon dioxide insulating layer and a gold crossover structure. For several gradiometric SQUIDs, with estimated inductances of order 67 pH, we measured parasitic effective areas in the range 1–2 μm2, approximately two orders of magnitude lower than for conventional narrow linewidth SQUIDs of similar inductance. For a single-layer gradiometer incorporating a gradiometric SQUID, we measured a parasitic effective area of 95 μm2. We demonstrate that for this device, the SQUID itself makes a negligible contribution to the overall parasitic effective area. We show that the improved balance leads to better performance in an unshielded environment.