Ling Hao

Measurement and noise performance of nano-superconducting-quantum-interference devices fabricated by focused ion beam

Science and industry demand ever more sensitive measurements on ever smaller systems, as exemplified by spintronics, nanoelectromechanical system, and spin-based quantum information processing, where single electronic spin detection poses a grand challenge. Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) have yet to be effectively applied to nanoscale measurements. Here, we show that a simple bilayer deposition route, combining photolithography with focused ion beam patterning, produces high performance nanoscale SQUIDs. We present results of noise measurements on these nanoSQUIDs which correspond to a magnetic flux sensitivity of around 0.2μΦ0∕Hz1∕2. This represents one of the lowest noise values achieved for a SQUID device operating above 1K.

Ballistic thermal and electrical conductance measurements on individual multiwall carbon nanotubes

We report thermal measurements on individual carbon nanotubes using a temperature sensing scanned microscope probe. An arc-grown bundle of multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs) is mechanically attached to a thermal probe. The heat flow down individual MWNTs is recorded as a function of the temperature difference across them. Simultaneous measurements of thermal and electrical conductance are recorded. The size of the conductance steps observed at room temperature and the correlation between electrical and thermal conductance steps are discussed and we present evidence for ballistic transport of both phonons and electrons in these tubes.

Detection of single magnetic nanobead with a nano-superconducting quantum interference device

We report the use of an ultralow noise nano-superconducting quantum interference device (nanoSQUID) to measure the hysteretic magnetization behavior of a single FePt nanobead at a temperature of around 7 K in a magnetic field of only ∼10 mT. We also show that the nanobead can be accurately positioned with respect to the SQUID loop and then removed without affecting SQUID performance. This system is capable of further development with wide applications in nanomagnetism.We report the use of an ultralow noise nano-superconducting quantum interference device (nanoSQUID) to measure the hysteretic magnetization behavior of a single FePt nanobead at a temperature of around 7 K in a magnetic field of only ∼10 mT. We also show that the nanobead can be accurately positioned with respect to the SQUID loop and then removed without affecting SQUID performance. This system is capable of further development with wide applications in nanomagnetism.

Non-contact method for measurement of the microwave conductivity of graphene

We report a non-contact method for conductivity and sheet resistance measurements of monolayer and few layers graphene samples using a high Q microwave dielectric resonator perturbation technique, with the aim of fast and accurate measurement. The dynamic range of the microwave conductivity measurements makes this technique sensitive to a range of imperfections and impurities and can provide rapid non-contacting characterisation. As a demonstration of the power of the technique, we present results for graphene samples grown by three different methods with widely differing sheet resistance values.

Electrical conductance and breakdown in individual CNx multiwalled nanotubes

Doping of carbon nanotubes with nitrogen during growth strongly modifies their electronic structure through n-type doping. This provides the possibility of producing nanotubes with high conductances, independent of tube chirality. To date, electrical measurements on individual nitrogen-doped multiwalled nanotubes (CNx MWNTs) have reported surprisingly low conductances (∼0.01G0). Here the authors present high conductance (1.0±0.3G0) measurements at low bias for individual CNx MWNTs. Conductance increases linearly with voltage at a rate of 0.7±0.2G0∕V until the threshold for electrical breakdown is reached. Discrete current steps of 20±10μA are then observed.

Using a 77 K SQUID to measure magnetic fields for NDE

A bare HTS SQUID of commercial design was used in 77 K experiments concerning NDE. The SQUID was operated with flux-locked instrumentation to provide a noise floor of 80 pT//spl radic/Hz. The effective sensor area was measured to be approximately 70 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ equivalent to an ideal point detector for NDE. The SQUID was used unshielded in a normal laboratory environment in a special purpose LN/sub 2/ cryostat positioned above a motorized computer-controlled scanning system. We measured magnetic fields associated with current flowing in wires and compared them with calculations. We also detected a simulated flaw in an aluminum plate using an eddy current technique and made a preliminary depth assessment by frequency sweeping. Although developments in electronic gradiometers and gradiometric SQUIDs should make the use of single bare magnetometer SQUIDs unnecessary, we show that these already have sufficient sensitivity for NDE research, even without flux-focusing washers or pick-up coils.<<ETX>>

The effects of step angle on step edge Josephson junctions on MgO

We have fabricated step edge junctions using MgO substrates and YBCO thin films. By varying the angle of the step edge over a range of angles up to 45/spl deg/, we have obtained 3 distinct step edge morphologies: a deep trench junction, a double junction and a single junction. We found that only the step angle and morphology affected the critical current density (I/sub c/) and that the film thickness-to-step height ratio had no effect over the range 0.2-1.1. Noise measurements indicated that the single junction steps had the lowest level of critical current fluctuations and the highest values of dynamic resistance. We have also studied the variation of I/sub c/ with temperature and found it follows the Ambergaokar-Baratoff model with a lower zero energy gap. We use this information to confirm that the junction parameters are affected by the c-axis tilt and the in-plane orientations proposed by others and consider the transport mechanisms across the junction.

The microwave surface impedance of MgB2 thin films

In this paper we present the results of measurements of the microwave surface impedance of a powder sample and two films of MgB2. The powder sample has a Tc = 39 K and the films have Tc = 29 K and 38 K. These samples show different temperature dependences of the field penetration depth. Over a period of six months, the film with Tc = 38 K degraded to a Tc of 35 K. We compare the results on all samples with data obtained elsewhere and discuss the implications as far as is possible at this stage.

Magnetic nanoparticle detection using nano-SQUID sensors

We demonstrate detection of a single core-shell magnetite?silica nanoparticle (outer diameter ~120?nm, moment ~104?B) using an Nb dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) with the loop size of 350?nm operational at T < 10?K. The system noise was minimized down to 0.2???0?Hz?1/2 using a cryogenic SQUID series array pre-amplifier. Initial measurements of an individual magnetic nanoparticle were performed and a clear change of the noise spectra of the nano-SQUID was detected at low frequencies in the presence of the nanoparticle. Similar behaviour was confirmed with an FePt nanoparticle with a larger magnetic moment (diameter ~150?nm, moment ~106?B). Thus, we demonstrate a magnetic sensor based on a dc nano-SQUID and enabling detection of small moments (potentially down to a few electron spins). Such a sensor is of considerable significance for nanomagnetic metrology and quantum information processing based on spin systems.

Miniature dc SQUID devices for the detection of single atomic spin-flips

Abstract We report progress towards a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) based system capable of detecting single atomic spin-flips. The scaling of the flux sensitivity with SQUID loop dimension of miniature Nb dc SQUIDs is examined and shown experimentally to vary as predicted. Our smallest device, with loop size 3×3 μm 2 , is capable of detecting a few spins in a 1 Hz bandwidth. We address the task of depositing a sample, of nanoscale dimension, within the SQUID loop.