射频超导量子干涉器的外磁通调制测量磁通量子

在外磁通作用下射频超导量子干涉器（ＲＦＳＱＵＩＤ）超导结两边量子相位差受到调制，干涉器吸收谐振回路能量的同时也影响谐振回路，回路输出电压与外磁通为三角波曲线关系，再受静磁场作用时曲线移动，据此可磁通量子。     

高温超导量子干涉器中的约瑟夫森结

超导量子干涉器(SQUID)是以约瑟夫森结为核心元件的极其灵敏的磁通-电压转换器.在最近20年间,超导电子学界利用多种铜氧化物高温超导材料,制造出了高温超导约瑟夫森结乃至高温超导量子干涉器(高TcSQUID);特别是,利用YBa2Cu3O7-δ(YBCO)制出了多种高温超导约瑟夫森结,并进而制成了具有一定实用性的高TcSQUID.文章主要是对高TcSQUID中所使用的高温超导约瑟夫森结进行评述.     

低噪声超导量子干涉器件磁强计设计与制备

超导量子干涉器件(superconducting quantum interference device, SQUID)作为一种极灵敏的磁通传感器,在生物磁探测、低场核磁共振、地球物理等领域得到广泛应用.本文介绍了一种基于SQUID的高灵敏度磁强计,由SQUID和一组磁通变压器组成. SQUID采用一阶梯度构型,增强其抗干扰性.磁通变压器由多匝螺旋的输入线圈和大尺寸单匝探测线圈组成,其中输入线圈与SQUID通过互感进行磁通耦合.利用自主工艺平台,在4英寸硅衬底上完成了基于Nb/Al-AlO_x/Nb约瑟夫森隧道结的SQUID磁强计制备.低温测试结果显示,该磁强计磁场灵敏度为0.36 nT/Φ_0,白噪声段磁通噪声为8μΦ_0/√Hz,等效磁场噪声为2.88 fT/√Hz.     

串联SQUID和不同圈数Washer输入线圈SQUID的制备与表征（英文）

超导量子干涉放大器常被用于读出微弱的磁通以及电流信号,可以将微弱信号转化成为大的电压信号.但是对于单个超导量子干涉放大器而言,其输出电压太小不能直接与室温放大器相连,我们考虑将相同参数的超导量子干涉放大器串联到一起,使其输出电压足够大并达到可直接与室温放大器连接的要求.我们已经制备并测试了约瑟夫森结,过阻尼约瑟夫森结,不同输入线圈的单个超导量子干涉放大器以及既有调制线圈又有反馈线圈的串联超导量子干涉放大器,获得了较好的伏安特性曲线,调制曲线以及将调制曲线进行傅里叶变换后的幅频特性曲线.通过分析约瑟夫森结的伏安特性曲线可知我们的制备工艺流程比较稳定.制备与测试超导量子干涉放大器对于以后将其应用于读出微弱信号领域具有重要的意义.     

超导量子干涉器件读出电路中匹配变压器的传输特性研究

在磁通调制超导量子干涉器件(SQUID)的读出电路中, 匹配变压器具有放大信号和阻抗匹配的功能, 是实现SQUID低噪声读出的关键元件. 利用模拟SQUID电路对匹配变压器进行性能测试, 研究了不同绕制匝数变压器的传输特性, 确定最佳绕制匝数比. 在变压器拾取SQUID电压信号的耦合网络中, 研究了不同电容对变压器传输特性的影响, 实现了变压器耦合网络参数的匹配和优化. 室温下匝数比为1:20的匹配变压器在匹配电容C=1μF时, 输出源电压增益为21.2, 带宽范围可达到210 kHz. 最后在基于磁通调制式DC SQUID读出电路中, 对匹配变压器的工作性能进行了评估与验证. 关键词： 超导量子干涉器件读出电路 匹配变压器 低噪声 传输特性     

T型量子点结构中的自旋极化输运过程

我们利用单杂质Anderson模型及运动方程等理论,通过求解格林函数的方法研究了通过T型量子点结构(耦合于铁磁电极和介观环量子点结构)的自旋极化输运过程.研究结果表明,与量子点相耦合的铁磁电极中的极化强度是控制量子点电子输运的重要参数,由此可以达到自旋阀效应.另外我们还发现与量子点相耦合的介观环中的磁通会影响电子自旋向上和自旋向下近藤共振峰的分裂程度,但若加入适当的外磁场,那么这样的分裂将被抵消。     

利用高温超导直流量子干涉器件进行10$lt;sup$gt;-6$lt;/sup$gt; T量级磁场下核磁共振的研究

研究了水样品在10^-6 T量级磁场下的核磁共振谱.核磁共振信号由一个工作在液氮温度的高温超导直流量子干涉仪记录,测量在一个简易磁屏蔽室中进行.在7—70 μT的磁场范围内都观察到了15 ml水样品的核磁共振信号.相应的^1H的核磁共振频率为300—3000 Hz.在实验中获取的单次测量信噪比约为4,通过对信号的100次平均,信噪比可达到约40.进一步讨论了剩余磁场、预极化时间和采样时间对结果的影响.最后用数字滤波之后平均的方法初步得到了时域的自由感应衰减信号. 关键词： 超导量子干涉仪 核磁共振     

基于双晶退火衬底的高温超导纳米量子干涉仪在液氦液氮温区下的输运特性

超导纳米量子干涉器件是近年来发展起来的一种新型超导器件, 通过现代微纳加工技术将其超导环缩小到纳米尺寸, 构成高度灵敏的微观自旋探测器, 理论上可以达到测量单电子自旋的灵敏度. 同时, 高温超导由于具有较高的临界温度和上临界场也备受关注. 然而, 相比于低温超导量子干涉器件, 高温超导量子干涉器件的1/f 噪声更加显著, 这限制了其在低频下的应用. 本文基于双晶衬底技术, 通过聚焦离子束加工制备高温超导纳米量子干涉仪, 并对其在液氦和液氮温区下的电学性能、4.2 K 下的磁通噪声进行表征. 实验发现, 通过预先退火处理钛酸锶双晶衬底, 可以有效改善衬底表面的粗糙度, 进而优化高温超导纳米量子干涉仪的1/f 磁通噪声. 最终得到低频下(1 Hz)的磁通噪声灵敏度为4.9 μΦ0/Hz1/2 , 比未事先预处理的小一到两个数量级, 这对于推进高温超导纳米量子干涉器件在低频下的应用意义重大.     

高阶高温超导量子干涉器件平面式梯度计的设计

设计了一种高温超导平面式梯度计的探测线圈，利用这种探测线圈与超导量子干涉器件(SQ UID)耦合，可以制成二阶或更高阶的高温超导SQUID平面式磁场梯度计.设计的探测线 圈由两个闭合环路组成，每个闭合环路是由若干个环路通过细小的连接通道连接而成.两个 闭合环路由一条超导窄带分割，将SQUID与这条超导窄带耦合可以测出超导窄带上的电流大 小.通过调整各个环路的形状、面积和位置，可以使超导窄带上的电流与磁场的高阶梯度成 正比，从而测得磁场的高阶梯度. 通过计算，得到了各个环路的面积、电感以及位置的关 系，在理 关键词： 高阶平面式磁场梯度计 高温超导薄膜     

阻尼型高温直流超导量子干涉器磁强计的设计

理论分析了超导环路与一个电阻并联结构的直流超导量子干涉器(dc-SQUID)的特性.给出了这种阻尼型dc-SQUID的电压噪声谱密度、传输函数和磁通噪声谱密度随偏置电流变化的曲线.与无阻尼型高温器件比较，调制参量β大于1的阻尼型高温dc-SQUID磁强计具有高稳定性和易调试等优点.当β大于4时，因传输函数的增大，阻尼型dc-SQUID还能降低它的磁通噪声谱密度从而提高磁强计的检测灵敏度.根据现有高温超导薄膜器件的工艺条件，设计了β等于4的阻尼型高温dc-SQUID磁强计的芯片、其磁通噪声和磁场噪声的理论值 关键词：     

基于高温超导SQUID的低场核磁共振研究

采用一高温超导射频量子干涉器(HTS rf-SQUID)作为信号探测器件,研究了多种液体样品的低场核磁共振信号。通过改变测量场(简称Bm)的大小,可以探测到质子拉莫频率(简称fL)从2Hz到40kHz的信号。由于在低场核磁共振中,Bm的均匀性能很好的得到满足,因而可能得到很窄的谱线宽度。实验发现,对自来水样品,在7μT以下均可接近谱线的自然宽度。同时,在低场核磁共振条件下,样品的化学位移很小以至于消失,因而可以研究"纯"的异核间的自旋耦合谱。作者研究了低场下2,2,2-三氟乙醇的低场自旋耦合谱。另外,作者首次采用SQUID在户外探测到地球磁场下的核磁共振现象,并研究了地球磁场的涨落对测量的影响,为SQUID的低场核磁共振研究开辟了一个新的研究方向。     

Magnetic study of the UPt3 superconducting phases

In order to distinguish the UPt₃ superconducting (s.c.) phases we have studied their magnetic properties at low fields in a SQUID magnetometer and up to fields >H_c2(0) with a capacitive torque-meter. With the SQUID we measure the magnetic penetration depth and find the second s.c. transition at T_c⁻ when the field is applied along the c-axis, but not with . This result, combined with power-law behavior at low temperature T, is most consistent with the two-dimensional E_2u s.c. order parameter. Below 20 mK we find an additional diamagnetic signal that we ascribe to the normal state magnetism. In high fields our torque measurements show a kink of the perpendicular magnetization component at the B–C phase line, pointing to an enhanced Ginzburg–Landau parameter in the C phase.     

Enhancement of SQUID-detected NMR signals with hyperpolarized liquid 129Xe in a 1 microT magnetic field

We report an enhancement of proton NMR signals by a factor of 10(6) by cross polarization with hyperpolarized liquid 129Xe in an ultralow magnetic field of 1 microT. The NMR signals from cyclopentane, acetone, and methanol are detected using a commercial high-T(c) SQUID magnetometer with a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 1000 from a single 90 degrees tipping pulse. This technique allows a wide range of low-field NMR measurements and is promising for the detection of intermolecular scalar spin-spin couplings. Scalar intermolecular couplings can produce a shift of the average NMR frequency in a hyperpolarized sample even in the presence of rapid chemical exchange.     

Characterization of Scanning SQUID Probes Based on 3D Nano-Bridge Junctions in Magnetic Field

We develop superconducting quantum interference device(SQUID) probes based on 3D nano-bridge junctions for the scanning SQUID microscopy. The use of these nano-bridge junctions enables imaging in the presence of a high magnetic field. Conventionally, a superconducting ground layer has been employed for better magnetic shielding. In our study, we prepare a number of scanning SQUID probes with and without a ground layer to evaluate their performance in external magnetic fields. The devices show the improved magnetic modulation up to 1.4 T. It is found that the ground layer reduces the inductance, and increases the modulation depth and symmetricity of the gradiometer design in the absence of the field. However, the layer is not compatible with the use of the scanning SQUID probe in the field because it decreases its working field range. Moreover, by adding the layer, the mutual inductance between the feedback coil and the SQUID also decreases linearly as a function of the field.     

Synthesis and rheological investigation of a magnetic fluid using olivary silica-coated iron particles as a precursor

A new type of magnetic fluid was prepared by dispersing monodispersed iron–silica (Fe–SiO₂) composite particles in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400. The composite particles Fe–SiO₂ were synthesized by hydrogen reduction from α-Fe₂O₃–SiO₂ spheres. Their microstructures were observed by a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and the magnetism was characterized with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Both steady-state and dynamic rheological properties of the magnetic fluid under different magnetic fields were studied by using a rheometer. Experimental results show that this magnetic fluid has a relatively high magnetoviscous effect at low shear rates. The yield stress of this material shows an increasing trend with a magnetic flux density. Also, viscoealstic properties of such materials are different from conventional ones.     

An efficient calibration method for SQUID measurement system using three orthogonal Helmholtz coils

For a practical superconducting quantum interference device(SQUID) based measurement system,the Tesla/volt coefficient must be accurately calibrated.In this paper,we propose a highly efficient method of calibrating a SQUID magnetometer system using three orthogonal Helmholtz coils.The Tesla/volt coefficient is regarded as the magnitude of a vector pointing to the normal direction of the pickup coil.By applying magnetic fields through a three-dimensional Helmholtz coil,the Tesla/volt coefficient can be directly calculated from magnetometer responses to the three orthogonally applied magnetic fields.Calibration with alternating current(AC) field is normally used for better signal-to-noise ratio in noisy urban environments and the results are compared with the direct current(DC) calibration to avoid possible effects due to eddy current.In our experiment,a calibration relative error of about 6.89 × 10-4is obtained,and the error is mainly caused by the non-orthogonality of three axes of the Helmholtz coils.The method does not need precise alignment of the magnetometer inside the Helmholtz coil.It can be used for the multichannel magnetometer system calibration effectively and accurately.     

In vivo NMR of hyperpolarized 3He in the human lung at very low magnetic fields

We present NMR measurements of the diffusion of hyperpolarized 3He in the human lung performed at fields much lower than those of conventional MRI scanners. The measurements were made on standing subjects using homebuilt apparatus operating at 3mT. O(2)-limited transverse relaxation (T(2) up to 15-35s) could be measured in vivo. Accurate global diffusion measurements have been performed in vivo and in a plastic bag; the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in vivo was 14.2+/-0.6mm(2)/s, whereas the diffusion coefficient in the bag (3He diluted in N(2)) was 79.5+/-1mm(2)/s. 1D ADC mapping with high SNR ( approximately 200-300) demonstrates the real possibility of performing quality lung imaging at extremely low fields.     

Microtesla MRI of the human brain combined with MEG

One of the challenges in functional brain imaging is integration of complementary imaging modalities, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). MEG, which uses highly sensitive superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to directly measure magnetic fields of neuronal currents, cannot be combined with conventional high-field MRI in a single instrument. Indirect matching of MEG and MRI data leads to significant co-registration errors. A recently proposed imaging method--SQUID-based microtesla MRI--can be naturally combined with MEG in the same system to directly provide structural maps for MEG-localized sources. It enables easy and accurate integration of MEG and MRI/fMRI, because microtesla MR images can be precisely matched to structural images provided by high-field MRI and other techniques. Here we report the first images of the human brain by microtesla MRI, together with auditory MEG (functional) data, recorded using the same seven-channel SQUID system during the same imaging session. The images were acquired at 46 microT measurement field with pre-polarization at 30 mT. We also estimated transverse relaxation times for different tissues at microtesla fields. Our results demonstrate feasibility and potential of human brain imaging by microtesla MRI. They also show that two new types of imaging equipment--low-cost systems for anatomical MRI of the human brain at microtesla fields, and more advanced instruments for combined functional (MEG) and structural (microtesla MRI) brain imaging--are practical.     

Parallel MRI at microtesla fields

Parallel imaging techniques have been widely used in high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multiple receiver coils have been shown to improve image quality and allow accelerated image acquisition. Magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-low fields (ULF MRI) is a new imaging approach that uses SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) sensors to measure the spatially encoded precession of pre-polarized nuclear spin populations at microtesla-range measurement fields. In this work, parallel imaging at microtesla fields is systematically studied for the first time. A seven-channel SQUID system, designed for both ULF MRI and magnetoencephalography (MEG), is used to acquire 3D images of a human hand, as well as 2D images of a large water phantom. The imaging is performed at 46 mu T measurement field with pre-polarization at 40 mT. It is shown how the use of seven channels increases imaging field of view and improves signal-to-noise ratio for the hand images. A simple procedure for approximate correction of concomitant gradient artifacts is described. Noise propagation is analyzed experimentally, and the main source of correlated noise is identified. Accelerated imaging based on one-dimensional undersampling and 1D SENSE (sensitivity encoding) image reconstruction is studied in the case of the 2D phantom. Actual threefold imaging acceleration in comparison to single-average fully encoded Fourier imaging is demonstrated. These results show that parallel imaging methods are efficient in ULF MRI, and that imaging performance of SQUID-based instruments improves substantially as the number of channels is increased.