SQUID Readout of a High-$Q$ Superconducting $LC$ Resonator

We demonstrate the readout of a superconducting $LC$ resonator, with $Q \approx 2 \times 10^{6}$ at approximately 250 kHz, using a dc SQUID followed by a SQUID series-array amplifier readout chain.

We find that $Q$ depends on the SQUID flux-bias point, increasing near the shallow-slope point of the SQUID modulation curve and decreasing near the steep-slope point, consistent with the previously observed SQUID damping effects.

From this variation, we infer the SQUID effective input impedance.

We further infer the effective temperature of the resonator circuit from the resonance peak in the noise spectrum and show that it also depends on the SQUID flux-bias point, suggesting a possible contribution from SQUID back-action noise.

This system provides a working prototype for future experiments based on lumped-element resonators with SQUID readout, in particular low-mass axion searches within the DMRadio program.