Imaging radio-frequency fields using a scanning SQUID microscope

Abstract

Using a liquid-nitrogen-cooled scanning SQUID magnetic microscope, we have developed a technique for broadband imaging of radio-frequency (rf) and microwave fields with a spatial resolution of about 15 μm. We have produced images of the amplitude of 50 MHz fields with an rms noise of 2.6 nT and a 300 μm/s scan rate. Detection is accomplished by using the nonlinearity of the voltage-flux characteristic of the SQUID to rectify the rf fields. Our present technique is limited by cavity mode resonances in the SrTiO3 substrate of our SQUID sensor. Using a small excitation probe, we have directly imaged these resonances at frequencies up to about 12.5 GHz.