High-Tc Superconducting Magnetic Field Sensors and Digital Circuitry

Objective

UNITED II addresses two main application areas for high-temperature superconductors (HTSC): digital circuitry and magnetic field sensors.
The project addressed 2 main application areas for high temperature superconductors (HTSC): digital circuitry and magnetic field sensors.

In the digital circuits area, the objective was to develop and optimize fast circuitry. It has proved possible to make rudimentary logic gates, required to build sophisticated devices such as analogue/digital converters (ADC).

In the magnetic field detection area, magnetometers and gradiometers working at 77 K that are fully integrated with on chip pick up coil are being developed. Special attention was paid to minimizing noise levels related to the microstructure properties of the HTSC layers. Demonstrators are based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) built with superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) junctions.

Prototype devices have been designed and fabricated. Tests have shown sufficient operating capability and functionality to proceed with design and fabrication of the complete circuits. Simulation and design studies are being carried out in parallel with product development to ensure that optimal figures are achieved in the resulting magnetometers, gradiometers and ADC.
In the digital circuits area, the objective is to develop and optimise fast circuitry based on the processes developed in the UNITED I project (EP 2281). These processes have proved themselves capable of making rudimentary logic gates, required to build sophisticated devices such as analog/digital converters (ADC).

In the magnetic field detection area, the objective is to develop magnetometers and gradiometers working at 77 K that are fully integrated with on-chip pick-up coil. Special attention will be paid to minimising noise levels related to the microstructure properties of the HTSC layers.

Demonstrators are based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) build with superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) junctions.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › superconductivity

Programme(s)

• FP3-ESPRIT 3 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of information technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

THOMSON CSF

Address

Domaine De Corbeville
91404 Orsay
France

Participants (5)

Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH

Germany

Address

An Der Bundesstraße 31
88048 Friedrichshafen

THOMSON CSF SINTRA-ASM

France

Address

525 Route Des Dolines
06561 Valbonne

UNIVERSITEIT VAN TWENTE

Netherlands

Address

Drienerlolaan, 5217
7500 AE Enschede

University of Cambridge

United Kingdom

Address

Free School Lane
CB2 3RF Cambridge

Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris VI

France

Address

Place Jussieu 4
75252 Paris