November 2 – Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia have proposed a new design for superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) that could enhance the performance of quantum sensing systems built around such devices. The research paper was recently published in the American journal Physical Review Applied. A SQUID consists of Josephson junctions and a superconducting closed loop and is a core component in many modern quantum sensing systems; a Josephson junction is a sandwich-like structure with two layers of superconductors enclosing an extremely thin insulating layer. According to the research team, the new design may in the future be applied in areas such as brain monitoring, radio frequency reception, and electromagnetic sensing, and is expected to simplify the manufacturing process and reduce costs, though further testing is still needed before commercialization.