A scanning SQUID microscope for samples at room temperature

Author

Dechert, J. ; Mueck, M. ; Heiden, C.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Appl. Phys., Giessen Univ., Germany

Volume

9

Issue

2

fYear

1999

fDate

6/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

4111

Lastpage

4114

Abstract

We report on the development of a scanning SQUID microscope for measurements of samples at room temperature. A thin film niobium DC-SQUID is used with conventional read-out electronics. It is placed above the thin bottom window of a fiberglass cryostat, allowing us to realize a distance of about 75 /spl mu/m between SQUID and sample. The evaporation rate for the liquid helium was about 0.3 1/h. Because the effective SQUID area can easily be brought below 10 /spl mu/m/sup 2/, the obtainable spatial resolution of such a scanning SQUID microscope is limited mainly by the distance between SQUID and sample. The sample is moved under the cryostat with a computer controlled XY-stage. Provisions are made for quick sample changes which are important for the practical application of such a device.

Keywords

SQUID magnetometers; microscopes; Nb; computer controlled sample stage; fiberglass liquid helium cryostat; magnetic field imaging; read-out electronics; room temperature measurement; scanning SQUID microscope; spatial resolution; thin film niobium DC-SQUID; Application software; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic flux; Magnetic force microscopy; Magnetic sensors; Niobium; SQUIDs; Spatial resolution; Temperature; Yttrium barium copper oxide;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.783930

Filename

783930