SQUID & Detector Technology Division (SDTD) focuses mainly on using SQUID based systems for applications. Magneto-Cardiography (MCG) and Magneto-Encephalography (MEG) have been successfully designed, assembled, standardized and used for clinical studies. Further, SQUID based measuring systems such as high field SQUID magnetometer, SQUID VSM, SQUID based set-up for Non- Destructive Evaluation (NDE) have been developed. SDTD also carries out intense research activities related to using SQUID based time domain electromagnetic measurements (TDEM) and geophysical explorations using TDEM.
Another major thrust research area of this division is the development of gamma irradiation detectors. Towards this the researchers have grown highly resistive CdTe single crystals and developed a gamma detector for pulse height spectroscopic studies. This research activity is being actively pursued to develop compact semiconductor based detectors with enhanced efficiency, and technologically important single crystals for detector applications.
Achievements
Single crystals of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te (CZT) have been grown in-house by travelling heater technique for gamma detector applications. With this sensor, the photo peaks of 133Ba and 241Am could be successfully resolved. The energy resolution at 31 keV and 81 keV of 133 Ba is found to be 8.4 % and 6.4 % respectively and the peak to valley ratio was 1.05. In the case of 241 Am source, it was 8.9 %, and the peak to valley ratio is ~ 1.8.
Indigenously grown and fully characterized single crystals of Lead Zinc Niboate – Lead Titanate (PZN-PT) were deployed for development of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices for examining the thermal expansion of reactor components immersed in liquid metal sodium. These piezoelectric crystals have a curie temperature of 190oC and hence can be used at temperatures below this. It is proposed to be used with waveguide for under sodium measurements now.
LiNbO3 Oriented Wafers developed for High Temperature Transducer Applications
Defect localization by orthogonally projected multiple signal classification approach for magnetic flux leakage fields
Imaging buried defects in a three dimensional magnetically permeable bar using generalized inverse technique
Localization of defects in magnetic permeable bar by Multiple signal classification approach using rotating dipole model
Signal space separation for axial gradiometric magnetoencephalography measurements using block matrix inversion
Utilization of SQUID based non-destructive evaluation system for detecting fatigue induced transformation of δ- ferrite to non-magnetic phases
TDEM survey in the field at AMD camp, Cuddapah, AP
Novel method of thickness measurement by the combination of transient eddy current NDE and apparent conductivity calculations.
Development of novel algorithms for processing and analyzing biosignals
Demonstration and validation of physiological signals of clinical relevance in collaboration with hospitals
Deposition and characterization of superconducting NbN, MoN thin films with high upper critical field.
Non-monotonic dependence of Bc2(0) and dBc2(T)/dT in Cr-Nb-Cr trilayer on superconductor thickness
Analysis of superconducting fluctuations in MoN thin films and identification of 2D to 3D cross over under magnetic field.
Interplay between current driven ferromagnetism in charge ordered antiferromagnetic Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin film multilayer
Oscillation of TC in Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7-δ Multilayer
Effect of current induced charge-order melting of Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 in partially masked superconducting Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7 bilayer
Expertise
Constitution of Task Force for Development of CZT based gamma radiation detector and other detectors based on single crystals. (Office Order no. DIR/2021/20)
Development of high quality Josephson junctions based on electron beam evaporation system
Design and development of SQUIDs based on Nb-Al2O3-Nb trilayers
Development of first order gradiometer HTS(YBCO) SQUID SENSOR
Development of SQUID Magnetometer with variable temperature regulator (VTR)
A simple insertible VTR for physical property measurement at low temperatures
Development of SQUID based VSM
Development of SQUID based NDE system
Development of SQUID based TDEM system for geophysical applications
Development of transient eddy current NDE system for thickness measurement and subsurface defect measurements in conducting material.
Development of multichannel MCG/MEG system for biomagnetic research
Development of custom made hardware modules for biomagnetic studies
Bluetooth module for single lead ECG system for telemetric applications
Contact heat evoked potential stimulator (CHEP) for conducting pain studies in EEG-MEG
Accelerometer based Liquid Helium level sensor
Development of Flux locked loop electronics for linearizing SQUID output
Indigenously developed Mao-Bell type Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC), capable of achieving P ~ 100 GPa
Design and development of micro heater for HELIOS membrane DAC
Design and development of liquid argon loading facility for loading liquefied argon in DAC
Infrastructure
DC/RF sputtering system
Lithographic facility
Reactive Ion etching system
Thirty-seven channel, flat bottomed Magnetocardiography (MCG) system
Eighty-six channel helmet bottomed Magnetoencephalography (MEG) system
Sixty-four channel Electroencephalogram (EEG) system with stimulus presentation modules
