Parallel N-junction superconducting interferometer with enhanced flux-to-voltage transfer function
AssigneeUniversity of Houston-University Park
InventorsJohn H. Miller, Jr., Terry D. Golding, Jaiming Huang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A physical configuration for a parallel multi-junction superconducting quantum interference device that can be used for a variety of applications involving the detection of magnetic flux, including applications where it is desired to measure the absolute magnitude of the flux. The device of this invention features a novel geometry for a multi-junction interference device which significantly enhances the flux-to-voltage transfer function, thereby yielding a significant improvement in the device sensitivity in its use in a magnetometer, gradiometer, or other applications.
Claims12
A superconducting quantum interference grating capable of detecting magnetic flux, comprising:
- at least three Josephson junctions connected electrically in parallel, a first terminal of each of said junctions connected to a central hub, said junctions physically arrayed radially about said central hub.
A device for detecting magnetic fields, comprising:
- a superconducting quantum interference grating comprising at least three Josephson junctions connected electrically in parallel, a first terminal of each of said Josephson junctions connected to a central hub, said junctions physically arrayed radially about said central hub;
- an input coil for providing an externally supplied magnetic field to said superconducting quantum interference grating;
- and
- a lock-in detection circuit, wherein said circuit senses the voltage across said superconducting quantum interference grating and provides magnetic feedback to said superconducting quantum interference grating to maintain said superconducting quantum interference grating in a predetermined state, and wherein said circuit further provides an output indicating the amount of feedback being supplied to said superconducting quantum interference grating.
A device for detecting magnetic fields, comprising:
- a superconducting quantum interference grating;
- a plurality of input coils, each of said input coils substantially centered over a separate loop of said superconducting quantum interference grating;
- and
- a lock-in detection circuit, wherein said circuit senses the voltage across said superconducting quantum interference grating and provides magnetic feedback to said superconducting quantum interference grating to maintain said superconducting quantum interference grating in a predetermined state, and wherein said circuit further provides an output indicating the amount of feedback being supplied to said superconducting quantum interference grating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.