Samenvatting

The current report concerns the research on a SQUID sensor design for the detection of magnetic
monopoles in topological insulators. The focus of the project was to evaluate the potential sensor parameters
and investigate the possibilities for its fabrication, considering the available resources at the University
of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands. Possible magnetic monopole detection methods were reviewed and
compared, showing that a SQUID is one of the best approaches for the task.
Theoretical analysis provided the ranges for a potential sensor parameters and those were implemented in
the further work. Considering the available materials and facilities, the decision was taken to fabricate and
test Nb/Al/AlOx/Al/Nb Josephson junctions based SQUIDs with variable dimensionality. In the process
of fabrication, the limitations and further considerations for a SQUID integration in a topological insulator
device were identied and summarized.
Measurements yielded successful Josephson junctions but there was not enough experimental proof for
the identication of a functional and suitable SQUID for the purpose of magnetic monopole detection.
Therefore, the possibilities for improvements on the process of fabrication were investigated. Based on the
observations, major alterations need to be done only with respect to the design execution strategy and
procedural adjustment.