Quantum detection applications of nanoSQUIDs fabricated by focussed ion beam

Abstract

The increasing demands of quantum metrology and nanoscience are driving the requirements for single particle detection capability across a wide variety of physics applications, including QIP, single photon detection, NEMS, nanomagnetism and spintronics. NanoSQUIDs represent a new manifestation of an old but exciting superconducting technology which addresses some of these requirements. We will describe a straightforward approach to fabricating Nb microbridge weak-links which may be used in nanoscale SQUIDs. These devices have demonstrated very low noise, even at operating temperatures above 4.2 K. We will also describe the performance of prototype devices made using this technique for energy resolving single photon detection, nanoparticle spin detection and NEMS resonator readout. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 2011.