Related papers: SQUIDs for detection of potential dark matter cand…
We present a new nanoscale superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) whose interference pattern can be shifted electrically in-situ. The device consists of a nanoscale four-terminal/four-junction SQUID fabricated at the apex of a…
Dark matter is an important component of the Standard model of cosmology but its nature is still unknown. One of the most common explanations is that dark matter consists of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), supposed to be cold…
Nano-scale superconducting quantum interference devices (nano-SQUIDS) where the weak-links are made from nano-bridges --- i.e., nano-bridge--SQUIDs (NBSs) --- are one of the most sensitive magnetometers for nano-scale magnetometry. Because…
This article gives an overview on the status of experimental searches for dark matter at the end of 2014. The main focus is on direct searches for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using underground-based low-background…
An increasing number of experiments require the use of ultrasensitive nanomechanical resonators. Relevant examples are the investigation of quantum effects in mechanical systems [1] or the detection of exceedingly small forces as in…
The readout process of a superconducting flux-qubit is theoretically analyzed in terms of the quantum dynamics of a qubit-SQUID coupled system during measurement. The quantity directly observed by the measurement is the switching current…
We investigate a new class of dark matter: superweakly-interacting massive particles (superWIMPs). As with conventional WIMPs, superWIMPs appear in well-motivated particle theories with naturally the correct relic density. In contrast to…
Dark Matter (DM) is an elusive form of matter which has been postulated to explain astronomical observations through its gravitational effects on stars and galaxies, gravitational lensing of light around these, and through its imprint on…
Searches for dark matter (DM) constituents are presently mainly focused on axions and WIMPs despite the fact that far higher mass constituents are viable. We discuss and dispute whether axions exist and those arguments for WIMPs which arise…
We have investigated asymmetrically shunted Nb/Al-AlO$_x$/Nb direct current (dc) superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). While keeping the total resistance $R$ identical to a comparable symmetric SQUID with $R^{-1} = R_1^{-1}…
Multiple astrophysical and cosmological observations show that the majority of the matter in the universe is non-luminous. It is not made of known particles, and it is called dark matter. This is one of the few pieces of concrete…
In the last decade radio astronomy has emerged as a powerful technique for detecting signatures of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). Dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are particularly promising targets for these searches due to…
Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are state-of-the-art in ultra-sensitive magnetometry; however, conventional SQUID devices are fundamentally limited by the inherently nonlinear and periodic nature of their transfer…
We present results on ultra low noise YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ nano Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (nanoSQUIDs). To realize such devices, we implemented high quality YBCO nanowires, working as weak links between two…
Transition Edge Sensors (TES) are superconducting microcalorimeters that can be used for single-photon detection with extremely low backgrounds. When they are within their superconducting transition region, small temperature fluctuations -…
Scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy is a magnetic imaging technique combining high-field sensitivity with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. State-of-the-art SQUID-on-tip probes are now playing an…
Dark matter may be composed of superWIMPs, superweakly-interacting massive particles produced in the late decays of other particles. We focus here on the well-motivated supersymmetric example of gravitino LSPs. Gravitino superWIMPs share…
There is almost universal agreement among cosmologists that most of the matter in the Universe is dark, and there are very good reasons to believe that most of this dark matter must be nonbaryonic. The two leading candidates for this dark…
Among some of the current uses of the DC Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) are qubit-readouts and sensors for probing properties of quantum materials. We present a rather unique gradiometric niobium SQUID design with…
Quantum sensing is a rapidly growing field of research which is already improving sensitivity in fundamental physics experiments. The ability to control quantum devices to measure physical quantities received a major boost from…