Design and Testing by Undergraduates of a Solenoidal Magnet to Field-Modulate the Critical Current of an all-MgB2 Josephson Junction

POSTER

Abstract

We describe the process of designing, building, and characterization, by undergraduates, of a solenoidal magnet to modulate the critical current of all-MgB2 thin film Josephson junctions. Using the magnetic field expression of a solenoid of finite length, the design parameters were determined and used to fabricate several prototypes of a magnet. A three-axis magnetometer was then used to map the field near the solenoid's geometric center, and the field was calibrated as a function of current. The solenoid was then mounted on a cryocooler shield and centered about an all-MgB2 thin film Josephson junction to be cooled down to 2 degrees Kelvin. We discuss the resulting magnetic field modulation of the junction's critical current and the estimated junction geometric area, as well as its impact on our current energy gap measurements in MgB2.

Authors

  • Oberon Wackwitz

    Univ of the Sciences in Philadephia, none

  • Shahab Derakhshan

    Drexel University, Univ of Delaware, Princeton University, Naval Surface Warfare Center\Carderock Division\West Bethesda site, Naval Surface Warfare Center and Georgetown Univ., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Deleware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada-Reno, university of Delaware, Contributors, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University, Choice Research Group, Univ of the Sciences in Philadephia, Rutgers Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Chemistry, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, Bucknell University, Towson University, University of Maryland, College of William and Mary, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Villanova University, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brescia, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Potsdam, Delaware State University DE, NIH Bethesda MD, Wilmington Friends School DE, University Of Rochester NY, Delaware State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy,West Virginia University, The National Energy Technology Laboratory, Non-tenure track professor at research institution, Government Sponsored Laboratory, Research and Development at Industrial Company, Tenure-track Professor at 4 yr college, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lehigh Univ, Johns Hopkins Univ, NIST, GMU, GWU, Lock Haven University of PA, Univ of Maryland-Balt County; Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Univ of Maryland-Balt County, Pennsylvania State University, BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire 03061, Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-6315, California State University, Long Beach

  • Shahab Derakhshan

    Drexel University, Univ of Delaware, Princeton University, Naval Surface Warfare Center\Carderock Division\West Bethesda site, Naval Surface Warfare Center and Georgetown Univ., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Deleware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada-Reno, university of Delaware, Contributors, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University, Choice Research Group, Univ of the Sciences in Philadephia, Rutgers Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Chemistry, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, Bucknell University, Towson University, University of Maryland, College of William and Mary, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Villanova University, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brescia, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Potsdam, Delaware State University DE, NIH Bethesda MD, Wilmington Friends School DE, University Of Rochester NY, Delaware State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy,West Virginia University, The National Energy Technology Laboratory, Non-tenure track professor at research institution, Government Sponsored Laboratory, Research and Development at Industrial Company, Tenure-track Professor at 4 yr college, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lehigh Univ, Johns Hopkins Univ, NIST, GMU, GWU, Lock Haven University of PA, Univ of Maryland-Balt County; Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Univ of Maryland-Balt County, Pennsylvania State University, BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire 03061, Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-6315, California State University, Long Beach

  • Shahab Derakhshan

    Drexel University, Univ of Delaware, Princeton University, Naval Surface Warfare Center\Carderock Division\West Bethesda site, Naval Surface Warfare Center and Georgetown Univ., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Deleware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada-Reno, university of Delaware, Contributors, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University, Choice Research Group, Univ of the Sciences in Philadephia, Rutgers Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Chemistry, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, Bucknell University, Towson University, University of Maryland, College of William and Mary, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Villanova University, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brescia, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Potsdam, Delaware State University DE, NIH Bethesda MD, Wilmington Friends School DE, University Of Rochester NY, Delaware State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy,West Virginia University, The National Energy Technology Laboratory, Non-tenure track professor at research institution, Government Sponsored Laboratory, Research and Development at Industrial Company, Tenure-track Professor at 4 yr college, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lehigh Univ, Johns Hopkins Univ, NIST, GMU, GWU, Lock Haven University of PA, Univ of Maryland-Balt County; Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Univ of Maryland-Balt County, Pennsylvania State University, BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire 03061, Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-6315, California State University, Long Beach