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Advanced SQUID-on-lever scanning probe for high-sensitivity magnetic microscopy with sub-100-nm spatial resolution
Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 054041 – Published 14 November, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/6s24-vz3k
Abstract
Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are exceptionally sensitive magnetometers, capable of detecting weak magnetic fields. Miniaturizing these devices and integrating them onto scanning probes enables high-resolution imaging at low temperatures. Here, we fabricate nanometer-scale niobium SQUIDs with inner-loop sizes down to at the apex of individual planar silicon cantilevers via a combination of wafer-scale optical lithography and focused ion beam (FIB) milling. These robust SQUID-on-lever probes overcome many of the limitations of existing devices, achieving spatial resolution better than 100 nm, magnetic flux sensitivity of 0.3 /, and operation in magnetic fields up to about 0.5 T at 4.2 K. Nanopatterning via - or -FIB milling allows for the incorporation of a modulation line for coupling magnetic flux into the SQUID or a third Josephson junction, for shifting its phase. Such advanced functionality, combined with high spatial resolution, large magnetic field range, and the ease of use of a cantilever-based scanning probe, extends the applicability of scanning SQUID microscopy to a wide range of magnetic, normally conducting, superconducting, and quantum Hall systems. We demonstrate magnetic imaging of skyrmions at the surface of bulk . Analysis of the point spread function determined from imaging a single skyrmion yields a full width at half maximum of 71 nm. Moreover, we image modulated magnetization patterns with a period of 65 nm.