Effects of high energy proton bombardment (50-280 MeV) on dc SQUIDS

Three thin film dc SQUIDs of varied construction were bombarded with energetic protons in the energy range of 50 to 280 MeV. Measurements of the voltage output of the dc SQUIDs were taken in open loop, as well as flux locked mode, in an environment of proton flux that was varied from 10/sup 4/ to 10/sup 7/ protons/cm/sup 2//s. Discrete voltage jumps corresponding to 0.01 to 0.001 flux quanta were observed in two of the three SQUIDs in the flux locked mode; discrete changes in the open loop SQUID output voltage were also observed. Some data appear to be consistent with proton-induced flux motion in the body of the SQUID loop.<
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