Portable Cryostat With Temperature Control Function for Operation of HTS-SQUID at a Higher Slew Rate

Abstract

We examined a portable cryostat utilizing liquid nitrogen with temperature control function for operation of high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (HTS-SQUIDs) to have a higher slew rate. To operate a non-destructive evaluation system with HTS-SQUID in city areas with serious environmental electromagnetic noise, we often need a higher slew rate. A glass Dewar is installed in an outer case made of aluminum, which is sealed hermetically. The temperature of liquid nitrogen is controlled by using a vacuum pump connected to a feedback circuit, which monitors the temperature of liquid nitrogen. The temperature of liquid nitrogen could be controlled in the range between 73 and 77.2 K with a 0.1 K step. For example, the temperature was kept at 75 K with precision of ±0.05 K for 9 hs and SQUID was operated stably for this period. The ΔV and the slew rate of a test SQUID were increased from 22 μV and 3.2 mT/s at 77.2 K to 37 μV and 5.9 mT/s at 73 K, respectively. The white noise was also improved from 48 fT/√Hz at 77.2 K to 32 fT/√Hz at 74 K. We believe that this technology is useful to extend application of HTS-SQUIDs in the fields.