RESUMO
The two-dimensional superconductor that forms at the interface between the complex oxides lanthanum aluminate (LAO) and strontium titanate (STO) has several intriguing properties that set it apart from conventional superconductors. Most notably, an electric field can be used to tune its critical temperature (Tc; ref. 7), revealing a dome-shaped phase diagram reminiscent of high-Tc superconductors. So far, experiments with oxide interfaces have measured quantities that probe only the magnitude of the superconducting order parameter and are not sensitive to its phase. Here, we perform phase-sensitive measurements by realizing the first superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) at the LAO/STO interface. Furthermore, we develop a new paradigm for the creation of superconducting circuit elements, where local gates enable the in situ creation and control of Josephson junctions. These gate-defined SQUIDs are unique in that the entire device is made from a single superconductor with purely electrostatic interfaces between the superconducting reservoir and the weak link. We complement our experiments with numerical simulations and show that the low superfluid density of this interfacial superconductor results in a large, gate-controllable kinetic inductance of the SQUID. Our observation of robust quantum interference opens up a new pathway to understanding the nature of superconductivity at oxide interfaces.
RESUMO
We present the design, realization, and performance of a three-axis vector nano superconducting quantum interference device (nanoSQUID). It consists of three mutually orthogonal SQUID nanoloops that allow distinguishing the three components of the vector magnetic moment of individual nanoparticles placed at a specific position. The device is based on Nb/HfTi/Nb Josephson junctions and exhibits line widths of â¼250 nm and inner loop areas of 600 × 90 and 500 × 500 nm(2). Operation at temperature T = 4.2 K under external magnetic fields perpendicular to the substrate plane up to â¼50 mT is demonstrated. The experimental flux noise below [Formula: see text] in the white noise limit and the reduced dimensions lead to a total calculated spin sensitivity of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for the in-plane and out-of-plane components of the vector magnetic moment, respectively. The potential of the device for studying three-dimensional properties of individual nanomagnets is discussed.
RESUMO
Superconductivity in the cuprate YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) (YBCO) persists up to huge magnetic fields (B) up to several tens of Teslas, and sensitive direct current (dc) superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) can be realized in epitaxially grown YBCO films by using grain boundary Josephson junctions (GBJs). Here we present the realization of high-quality YBCO nanoSQUIDs, patterned by focused ion beam milling. We demonstrate low-noise performance of such a SQUID up to B = 1 T applied parallel to the plane of the SQUID loop at the temperature T = 4.2 K. The GBJs are shunted by a thin Au layer to provide nonhysteretic current voltage characteristics, and the SQUID incorporates a 90 nm wide constriction which is used for on-chip modulation of the magnetic flux through the SQUID loop. The white flux noise of the device increases only slightly from 1.3 µΦ(0)/(Hz)(1/2) at B = 0 to 2.3 µΦ(0)/(Hz))(1/2) at 1 T. Assuming that a point-like magnetic particle with magnetization in the plane of the SQUID loop is placed directly on top of the constriction and taking into account the geometry of the SQUID, we calculate a spin sensitivity S(µ)(1/2) = 62 µ(B)/(Hz))(1/2) at B = 0 and 110 µ(B)/(Hz))(1/2) at 1 T. The demonstration of low noise of such a SQUID in Tesla fields is a decisive step toward utilizing the full potential of ultrasensitive nanoSQUIDs for direct measurements of magnetic hysteresis curves of magnetic nanoparticles and molecular magnets.
