SQUD(Superconducting (Quantum Interference Device)

sOUID stands for Superconducting Quantum Interference Device. It is a superconducting

device that can measure an extremely small magnetic field. It is avery sensitive magnetometer
in which a superconducting loop is used with one or more Josephson junctions. SQUIDs are
sensitive enough to measure magnetic fields as low as Sx 10 Tesla.
The superconducting materials used for low-temperature SQUIDs are pure niobium or
lead alloys. The device is cooled with liquid helium to maintain superconductivity. High
temperature SQUIDs are made from high-temperature superconductors such as yttrium barium
copper oxide (YBCO) and cooled with the cheaper and readily available liquid nitrogen.
Principle
It isbased on the flux quantization in a superconducting ring. Asmall change in magnetic
field produces variation in the quantum flux.
Description and Working
It isa double junctionquantum interferometer. Two Josephson junctions mounted on a
superconducting ring to form this interferometer.
Voltage
Superconducting ring

Currernt Cutrent

Josephson
junction Magnetic field

SQUID
When the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the plane of the ring, the current is
induced at the two Josephson junctions. The induced current produces the interference pattern
and flows around the ring. Anyexternal magnetic field causes a current imbalance that leads to a
voltage across the Josephson junction. The voltage is a function of the magnetic flux and can
therefore be measured and used to calculate the magnetic flux. The total magnetic flux passing
through the ring is quantized.
There are two types of SQUID, 1) the direct current (DC) SQUID with two or more
junctions and 2) the radio frequency (RF) SQUID consisting of only one Josephson junction. The
RF SQUID is cheaper in construction but less sensitive compared to the DC SQUID.

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 1) DCSQUID 2)
RE

A typical DC SQUID has

two parallel junctions inserted in a
without a magnetic field, the input superconducting
current splits equally between the branches., In
loop.
the magnetic field the phase shift and the phase the absence of
difference are zero.
Insulator

.
A

Superconducaor
DC SQUIDismade up two
The SQUTD is kept in a Josephson junctions
magnetic field. A DC super curent I enters the
port C, gcts divided into two ports I,
and l;. The current I, and I;
device through
CrOssing the Josephson junctions P and Q and undergoes a phase shift while
I'and 1 interluce at port D. ln became !' and 1,' respcctively. Thesuper
currents
superconductors
interfering waves are the de Broglic waves of the
the current is caused by the
Cooper pairs. Sn the
occur due to the applicd magnctic icld. Cooper pairs. The phase shifls of the waves
The
maxima and minima. The maximaoccurs when resultan1 current at port D Oscillates betwven
the magnetic lux increascs by one
quantum.
The superconducting magnetic Mux
quantum %is a
constants: the Planck cunstanth and the ckctron charge e. combination of fundamcntal physical
= (2e) =2.0678× 10 Wb
Where. gis the charge of the Cooper pair and the
weber isthe unít of magnetic flux.
in practice instead of the current the votage V
voltage also oscillates with the changing across the SQUID is measured. The
magnetic fickd. Thus the SQUID is a
transducer which converts a small change in
magnetic flux into voltage.
flux-to-volage

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2) RE SQUID one-junction superconducting loop in
just one junction. A
The RF SQUID iscomposed of loop coupled to a LC circuit with a
superconducting
A one-junction
an external magnetic field.
frequency.
altermating current source of radio
1'artyal

Z0Insulator

Superconductor
O
Josephson junctions
RF SQUID is made up one driven by
superconducting loop is coupled to a circuit
one-junction
In the RF SQUID, the the flux produced by the current (RF).
When
would experience
a RF current source, i.e. the loop external flux is
to measure, the total
that we want
some magnetic flux Dq
the loop is put in Der = Da+ORF
used as a
one-junction SQUID loop that can be
Frequency) SQUID is a easier
The RF (Radio than the DC SQUID,it is cheaper and
Although it is less sensitive
magnet:c field detector.
more commonly used.
to manufacture and is therefore
10+
SQUDAnplications magnetic fields of the order of
detection of very weak
very sensitive in
1. A SQUID is
lesla. device for magnetic flux. have application in many
uded to as storage field SQUIDS
2. SQUID is their extreme sensitivity to magnetic
3. Because of detection of
medicine, engineering, etc paramagnetic impurities,
field like geology, study of earthquakes, removing
the the
4. It is useful in from the brain, heart etc., the human brain or heart by sensing
magnetic fields measuring faint signals in
S. SQUIDS are used in
by the neurological currents.
wb/m. SQUID is used to detect
magnetic fields created fields of about 10*
magnetic
The human brain generates imaging (MRI). MRI,
6. imaging. magnelic resonance
and also used in brain used as detectors to perform detailed images of almost every
internal
being
7. SQUIDs are medical imaging test that produces bones, muscles and blood
vessels.
magnetometers and
is anoninvasive including the organs, gradiometers,
body,
structure in the human construction of highly sensitive
for the aluminium sheets to be
8. SQUIDisused testing of the
voltmeters. non-destructive testing like
SQUIDs are used in
9. The
used for aircrafts.

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