Magnetic Imaging with High Spatial Resolution Using a Single Niobium-Nitride-Based Three-Dimensional Nanobridge Junction

Abstract

The nanobridge junctions (NBJs) allow the miniaturization of the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) and improve the spatial resolution of scanning SQUID microscopy. However, the SQUID loop diameter imposed a fundamental limit on the resolution. In this work, we proposed a single niobium-nitride-based three-dimensional nanobridge junction (NbN-3D-NBJ) alternative to the nanoSQUID for high-resolution magnetic imaging. The critical current of an NbN-3D-NBJ showed an nearly monotonic dependence on the external magnetic field, enabling nanoscale mapping of the magnetic field distribution by measuring the junction's critical current with an intrinsic noise level of 100 nT/Hz^1/2. Using a NbN-3D-NBJ probe, we successfully imaged an Abrikosov vortex in a niobium film with a minimal full width at half maxima (FWHM) of 530 nm, constrained by the distance from the junction to the probe tip edge. Furthermore, we resolved 80 nm spacings between the superconducting nanowires utilizing a second probe with an optimized junction-to-tip distance. Thus, the single 3D NbN NBJ probe has been demonstrated as an effective approach for magnetic imaging with ultra-high spatial resolution.