Towards Highly Sensitive RF SQUID Magnetometers with High-Q Tantalum Resonators

Abstract

With the ability to fabricate high-Q tantalum resonators with Q’s ranging from the low millions to hundreds of millions, we explore the potential to improve the sensitivity of the rf SQUID magnetometer. We provide a theoretical discussion of the key parameters that influence the sensitivity of the rf SQUID magnetometer. To ensure the feasibility of our designs, we then provide the results of EM simulations of our device configurations. Additionally, we report on the initial fabrication and measurement of our resonators, and explore the threshold of the onset of high-power nonlinearity.