Improved superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer for low cross talk operation

A fully integrated dc-SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) magnetometer based on niobium technology including a new feedback coil design is presented. With respect to a standard SQUID design, the new feedback coil design was optimized in order to reduce the mutual inductance between neighbors and to increase the coupling with the pickup coil of the SQUID itself. In such a way, it is possible to reduce cross talk due to both the feedback coil and wires. Experimental results for the characterization of the device and the cross talk measurements are reported. The measurements have been performed in liquid helium using a low noise readout electronics specifically designed for large multichannel SQUID-based instruments. The experimental data show a substantial reduction of cross talk between neighboring sensors with respect to a traditional feedback coil. Furthermore, the new feedback coil system does not introduce any noise degradation. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.