A reproducible design and manufacturing process for SQUID magnetometers
Date
2005-03
Authors
Graser, Ferdl Wolfgang
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
A process was developed to design and manufacture a dc SQUID magnetometer. Superconductor
theory is given as a foundation to explain the Josephson junction. This knowledge
is applied to explain the ideal and practical dc SQUID. The design of the dc SQUID
is done with inductance calculation formulas. Each step of the manufacturing process is
discussed in detail. Many improvements have been made to the process to make each step
reproducible. The steps in the manufacturing process that were done in-house are: manufacturing
an YBa2Cu3O7−d pellet, depositing the thin film with the pulsed laser deposition
process, creating a mask with the UV lithography process, wet etching the circuit and depositing
silver contact pads with thermal evaporation. The device is packaged on a printed
circuit board device holder and shielded with a mu-metal shield. A test setup is developed
to test the final device. Each step in the manufacturing process was successful. The final
device did not work, due to oxidisation of the YBa2Cu3O7−d thin film.
Description
Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
Keywords
Superconducting quantum interference devices, Magnetometer, Superconductivity, Dissertations -- Electronic engineering, Theses -- Electronic engineering