3D nano-bridge-based SQUID susceptometers for scanning magnetic imaging of quantum materials

Nanotechnology. 2019 Jul 26;30(30):305303. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab1792. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Abstract

We designed and fabricated a new type of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) susceptometers for magnetic imaging of quantum materials. The 2-junction SQUID sensors employ 3D Nb nano-bridges fabricated using electron-beam lithography. The two counter-wound balanced pickup loops of the SQUID enable gradiometric measurement and they are surrounded by a one-turn field coil for susceptibility measurements. The smallest pickup loop of the SQUIDs were 1 μm in diameter and the flux noise was around 1 μФ0/√Hz at 100 Hz. We demonstrate scanning magnetometry, susceptometry and current magnetometry on some test samples using these nano-SQUIDs.