MgB 2 tunnel junctions and 19 K low-noise dc superconducting quantum interference devices

Abstract

Point contact junctions made from two pieces of MgB2 can be adjusted to exhibit either superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) or superconductor-normal metal–superconductor (SNS) current–voltage characteristics. The SIS characteristics are in good agreement with the standard tunneling model for s-wave superconductors, and yield an energy gap of (2.02±0.08) meV. The SNS characteristics are in good agreement with the predictions of the resistively-shunted junction model. DC superconducting quantum interference devices made from two SNS junctions yield magnetic flux and field noise as low as 4 μΦ0 Hz−1/2 and 35 fT Hz−1/2 at 19 K; Φ0 is the flux quantum.