Low noise YBa2Cu3O7−δ grain boundary junction dc SQUIDs

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Abstract
We have fabricated YBa2Cu3O7−δ grain boundary junction dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) with a square washer geometry design. The SQUIDs were formed in c‐axis oriented epitaxial films with a single grain boundary of predetermined nature. These SQUIDs show perfectly periodic voltage‐flux characteristics without hysteresis from 4.2 to 87 K. At 77 K intrinsic energy sensitivities of 1.5×10−30 and 3.0×10−30 J/Hz at 10 kHz were obtained for 60 and 110 pH SQUIDs, respectively. The intrinsic energy sensitivity limited by 1/f noise at 10 Hz was 1.2×10−28 and 5.5×10−28 J/Hz. The SQUID voltage noise was found to be almost identical to the voltage noise from one of its junctions. The flux focusing effect of the washer geometry was also measured.