1/f Flux Noise in low-T$_c$ SQUIDs due to Superparamagnetic Phase Transitions in Defect Clusters

It is shown here that $1/f^\alpha$ flux noise in conventional low-T$_c$ SQUIDs is a result of low temperature superparamagnetic phase transitions in small clusters of strongly correlated color center defects. The spins in each cluster interact via long-range ferromagnetic interactions. Due to its small size, the cluster behaves like a 'random-telegraphic' macro-spin when transitioning to the superparamagnetic phase. This results in $1/f^{\alpha}$ noise when ensemble averaged over a random distribution of clusters. This model is self-consistent and explains all related experimental results which includes $\alpha\sim 0.8$ independent of system-size. The experimental flux-inductance-noise spectrum is explained through three-point correlation calculations and time reversal symmetry breaking arguments. Also, unlike the flux noise, it is shown why the second-spectrum inductance noise is inherently temperature dependent due to the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. A correlation-function calculation methodology using Ising-Glauber dynamics was key for obtaining these results.

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