A number of de SQUIDs with different inductance values have been fabricated
in YBa2Cu3O7 thin films on MgO substrates, Resistors prepared in Au thin f
ilms have been applied as shunt resistors for the SQUID inductance loop. Ch
aracterisation and noise measurement have been carried out on these SQUIDs.
The results are in agreement with theoretical predictions of Enpuku ef al.
The use of shunt resistors has improved the performance of the SQUIDs with
high inductance, and made it less dependent on the critical current of the
junctions, which is not always reproducible. Furthermore, high SQUID induc
tance increases the coupling efficiency of magnetic flux, for example in te
rms of a better inductance matching between the SQUID and the pick-up loop
in a directly coupled magnetometer. Based on this study, SQUID devices such
as magnetometers and gradiometers with high field responses have been desi
gned and tested.