Superconducting device at work.

Superconducting devices and systems

CSIRO develops novel instrumentation based on Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) and works in the frontier science of quantum engineering.

• 5 May 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011

• How we work
• What we do
• Frontier science
• Working with us

CSIRO explores applications for high-temperature superconductors (those that work at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, -196 °C) including SQUID-based detectors.

We also develop low-temperature superconducting devices (those that require cooling to the temperature of liquid helium, -269 °C) for quantum engineering applications and single molecule detection.

How we work

Fundamental theory forms the basis of everything we do and our design process makes exhaustive use of mathematical modelling.

Our devices are made using the best available physics and material science knowledge to optimise their performance. We then go further, developing complete systems including:

• cryogenics
• data acquisition
• signal processing
• user-friendly software interfaces.

What we do

We develop innovative integrated systems for a range of applications.

Mineral exploration:

• LANDTEM™, a magnetometer, detects deeply buried, highly conducting ore bodies and is made under license by the Australian company, Outer Rim Exploration Services
• GETMAG™, a tensor gradiometer which detects iron ores, kimberlite pipes (diamonds), and other magnetic materials from the air and is being developed with CSIRO Exploration & Mining in the Minerals Down Under Initiative
• our Spinning Rock Magnetometer SPINMAG characterises minerals in rock samples.

Oceanography:

• OCEANMAG is the use of magnetic measurement and its interpretation for the detection of hydrocarbons (such as oil and gas) and ocean bed mineralisation, mapping the ocean floor, current and wave detection, and tsunami early warning devices - part of its development is being done with the Wealth from Oceans Flagship.

Safety and security:

• our SQUID magnetometer detects fragments of stainless steel weighing less than 1 mg, even when they’re wrapped in aluminium foil, and has applications in the food, pharmaceutical and security industries.

Defence:

• in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), we are developing MAGSAFE to, among other things, detect submarines with one fly-past.

Frontier science

We are investigating nano-SQUIDs for single photon detectors and nano-NMR, novel qubits, and single atomic and nano-cluster electron spin detectors.

We're also working on applications of low temperature superconductors such as:

• absolute value magnetometers
• pi-SQUIDs
• flux qubits
• terrahertz imaging.

Working with us

CSIRO's superconductivity group is one of the largest in the world.

We offer fundamental scientific knowledge and years of experience in its application.  

We have close links with other major players in superconductivity, such as the United Kingdom's National Physical Laboratory and Strathclyde University. 

We work closely with our collaborators, tailor making devices and systems to suit individual requirements.

Read more about our work in CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering.