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(dB z/dx and dBz/dy). They were jointly developed by the Finnish State Research Laboratory
located on the Helsinki campus) and fabricated to HUT’s specification. The Finns claim that
SQUID chips are being produced reliably and have noise levels as good as the IBM devices. It
should be noted that if the Finnish SQUIDs were as good as IBM’s, Helsinki would not need
IBM’s. The same government agency (established to promote new technology for commercial
exploitation by industry in Finland) funded the SQUID development at the State Research
Laboratory as well as production of the large number of SQUIDs required for Lounasmaa’s 24
channel magnetometer.
The Finnish dc SQUID has the following characteristics:
i) All thin-film improved IBM process: Nb-NbO-Pb/In junctions, lift-off technique, 10 layers.
ii) Process claimed to be reliable, with the ability to produce more than 1,000 devices/year.
iii) SQUID chip designed to be inductively coupled via built-in impedance matching transformer
to pickup coil on separate substrate (no superconducting joints), with the detection coils being
inductively coupled to the SQUID.
iv) Built-in rf shielding; self-shielded via balanced input coil transformer.
The dc SQUID electronics have a relatively compact, modular design with state-of-the-art
performance. Its rfi rejection said to be much better than BTi or any other known design, with
minimal noise from transmission lines and matching circuits.
Tampere University, Finland
Experienced in systems integration, Tampere University has constructed a three channel SQUID
gradiometer for biomagnetism (cardiography). They have purchased both BTi (rf) and Jena (dc)
SQUID components for their work.
Instruments for Technology, Finland
A defunct manufacturer of rf SQUID systems. Technical support came from Professor
Lounasmaa’s group at Helsinki University.
Neuromag Ltd., the new Finnish venture— Manufacturer
As mentioned. Professor Olli Lounasmaa/Helsinki University of Technology is building a 100
channel planar gradiometer system. IBM is sufficiently interested that (IBM) is considering giving
(loaning) Helsinki the SQUIDs for free. The IBM press release in the Wall Street Journal gave the
(mistaken) impression that IBM was getting into the MEG business. Lounasmaa has formed a
company (believed to be named Neuromag, Ltd. and headed by Dr. Antti Ahonen) to market the
100 channel system. Participants include the Helsinki University group and the Finnish company
Instrumentarium. IBM is not listed as a participant in this venture and most likely, the Finns will
have to build their own SQUIDs for commercial units. IBM’s participation is felt to be to keep
IBM’s hand in, in case there is a $1 billion market in biomagnetism.
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NDRI, Sweden
Although not a manufacturer or designer of SQUID technology, the Swedish National Defense
Research Institute is involved in Magnetic Anomaly Detection. Using fixed base rf SQUID
systems (single and 3-axis geophysical magnetometer systems purchased from BTi and CTF or
constructed by NDRI), they have been able to detect submarines at distances of a few hundred
meters.
Asian Capability
Japan
Currently over 75% of SQUID sales within Japan are from U.S. manufacturers (BTi and QD).
Manufacturers
Hoxan
sells laboratory rf SQUID systems and gradiometers for biomagnetism, has not delivered multi-
channel biomagnetic system. They are actively marketing their model HSM-2000 SQUID system
and have told prospective purchasers that there would be “no problem” in supplying SQUID
systems in the PRC. They claim 50 mFo/ for their thin-film sensor, but this increases to 200 mFQ/
as a system. The equivalent 5 x lO'^l Joule/Hz energy sensitivity for the bare sensor sounds far
too good for the 18.4 MHz pump frequency used. The electronics appear to be a copy of BTi’s
330X electronics. Hoxan has delivered 20+ BTi style SQUID susceptometers in Japan. The
susceptometer appear to be a reverse engineered version of the BTi
1 st generation model VTS.
Hoxan has been developing an integrated SQUID fabrication facility and have developed a dc
SQUID, not yet commercially available. Their dewar technology includes the use of carbon-fiber
and alumina-fiber reinforced plastics, slitted multi-layer superinsulation and coil-foil thermal
shielding.
Shimadzu
Shimadzu sells single channel magnetometer and gradiometer systems along with a 7-channel
gradiometer. The probes appeared to be copies of BTi equipment. All systems used rf SQUID
technology with system noise = 24 fT/. The electronics also appear to be a copy of BTi’s 330X rf
electronics.
Shimadzu has built 3-axis geophysical magnetometer (copy of BTi’s GMS-45) for Japan Defense
Agency, and 8 single channel systems for magnetic monopole experiment for KEK (Japanese High
Energy Group).
Yokogawa
Another manufacturer of SQUID components, Yokogawa has delivered 20 rf SQUID systems in
Japan. They have also delivered 2 single channel gradiometers for biomedical research
(Cardiography and auditory evoked response).
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Hitachi
Not yet selling systems, Hitachi is developing a SQUID system for commercial applications. Their
major interest is in die commercial biomedical market Hitachi has not publicly announced their
intentions towards the biomedical market, but are rumored to be mounting a major R&D effort.
They are also involved with high temperature superconductivity and have made a liquid nitrogen
dc SQUID magnetometer (like IBM) with a sensitivity of ~50 picoTesla. The claimed critical
current of the actual thin film used to make the SQUID loop is ~6,000 A/cm^.
Hitachi is also interested in Donaldson’s/University of Strathclyde, Scotland NDE work. So much
so that Hitachi hired Donaldson’s assistant to come to work for Hitachi to look at stainless steel.
Hitachi’s interest is in corrosion of piping in nuclear reactors. Supposedly Hitachi will collaborate
with Donaldson, but Donaldson doesn’t expect to get much information back from Hitachi.
Fujitsu
Originally doing Josephson junction research (5th generation computer). Fujitsu has the potential
to build dc SQUIDs, but is not presently marketing them. They have announced a planar SQUID
on an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit could accommodate >100 devices. The intention is
to use these for medical applications. Fujitsu has recently reported on digital SQUID with flux
noise of 1 mF()/.
Fujitsu is rumored to be in a “subconsortium” with other Japanese companies (Hoxan &
Yokogawa?) to produce a 200 channel biomagnetometer. Not yet selling systems.
Mitsubishi
Not yet selling systems, Mitsubishi has announced a thin film planar dc SQUID. They have been
developing an integrated SQUID fabrication facility. Device sensitivity said to be comparable to
commercial dc SQUIDs. Like Hitachi, Mitsubishi can be considered to be a potential competitor
for the commercial biomagnetism market.
University, Government and Industrial Laboratories
Aisin
Exhibited (at the 1987 Biomagnetism conference in Tokyo) a Nb3Ge SQUID (fabricated at Tokyo
University) that operates with a cryocooler at T > 10 K. Noise ~200 mF()/ using BTi 330X (rf)
electronics.
TOYO SODA
With researchers at Nagaoka University, TOYO SODA developed a NbN SQUID gradiometer
system. The sensor is a planar nanobridge device patterned after IBM dc SQUIDs developed by
Mark Ketchen. The SQUID loop is encapsulated in a toroidal structure like current BTi HYBRID
dc SQUIDs as described in publications from the now defunct Sperry group. Probe design is
similar to BTi single channel gradiometer systems. Sensor flux noise is ~5 mF()/
(2 x 10'31 Joule/Hz).
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Nippon Telephone and Telegraph
Although not fabricating SQUID devices, NTT has the capability as they are currently producing
Josephson junction gates for digital applications. NTT is interested in SQUID applications, Dr.
Ueno having purchased a dual 7-channel Neuromagnetometer from BTi in 1988.
Nippon Electronic Corporation
Like NTT, NEC is producing Josephson junction gates, with the capability to fabricate dc
SQUIDs.
ElectroTechnical Laboratory, Tokyo
The ETL has 10 people working on the Josephson junction computer program and 5-6 people
working on biomagnetic (neuromagnetism) effort. Funding for ETL is from MITI. Key person at
ETL is Dr. Koyanagi. ETL has built a dual channel planar dc SQUID biomagnetometer with
integral planar detection coils. Sensitivity 28 fT/ in a magnetically shielded room. The SQUID
sensor requires only normal metal connections to room temperature. ETL’s intention is to build a
9-channel system. ETL has also constructed a system comprised of three integrated dc
SQUID/magnetometer coil devices placed on the orthogonal faces of a cube. A second set of
three is located above the first and its output used to (electronically) cancel out uniform fields.
System noise (in a shielded room) is better than 30 fT/. ETL researchers have also constructed an
integrated NbN dc SQUID magnetometer with MgO barriers. The intention is to couple this
particular device with a cryocooler.
Hokkaido University
Interest is in thin film planar gradiometers with NbN and MoN Josephson junctions. These
devices have flux sensitivities ~10 mF()/. Gradiometer designs are fractional loop gradiometers
and concentric circles (conceptually similar to (but many orders of magnitude smaller than) those
designed by Donaldson/Strathclyde). Shinya Kuriki and colleagues have also developed an ac bias
scheme to reduce l/f noise similar to that developed by Simmonds. Hokkaido has also
constructed high-Tc SQUIDs.
Osaka University
Developed 6-channel rf SQUID gradiometer for MCG work. 3 (second gradient) orthogonal
channels are for detection of MCG, the other 3 (magnetometer) channels are for electronic noise
cancellation. Osaka is developing rf and dc SQUID electronics for multi-channel SQUID systems.
Tokyo University
developed NbjGe Dayem bridge SQUID sensor. The sensor noise was below
200 mF()/ using BTi 330X (rf) electronics. Tokyo University supplied the sensor to Aisin for use
with a closed cycle refrigerator.
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Kyushu University
Developing an all-planar (Nb-NbO-Pb/In) dc SQUID gradiometer with design goals of
7 inFo/ and gradient sensitivity of 24 fT/cm/.
Nagoya University
NbN microbridge dc SQUID development has led to devices with flux noises less than
50 mF()/. Researchers from Aisin have joined this effort.
Nagaoka University
Another group working on NbN dc SQUIDs, they have measured flux noises of 30 mF()/. Intrinsic
noise is felt to be three times lower.
Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
The Institute works with Shimadzu Corporation on a dc SQUID development program.
Research Development Corporation of Japan (JRDC)
Yet another dc SQUID development program, the aim is to produce magnetometers.
Taiwan
National Taiwan University
Working on Josephson junction characteristics. Also has high Tc interests.
China (PRC)
Research on SQUID devices is being performed at a number of institutions including Nanjing and
Beijing Universities. Activity has included both high-Tc and low-Tc devices. As mentioned earlier,
a significant number of Chinese researchers have trained in the United States. Additionally, a
number of SQUID systems have been acquired from COCOM countries for basic and applied
research. Specific activity of interest includes:
National Institute of Metrology
S. Q. Xue and colleagues have produced a thin-film Nb-Si-Nb tunnel junction with an energy
noise of 2 x 10'28 Joule/Hz.
Harbin Nuclear Instrument Factory
Under the supervision of the China Metrological Scientific Research Institute, they manufacture
the model SQD-1 rf SQUID system. Biased at 30 MHz, it has a flux noise of 200 mF()/.
Electronics features are similar to BTi’s model 330X electronics.
India
National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi
One of many groups in India working on high temperature superconductivity, they have
fabricated a high-Tc rf SQUID with flux noise ~2 x 10~4 Fq/.
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