Salvatore Mesoraca (Thales) | JSS #5

High-temperature superconducting quantum interference antenna

This session will feature expert speaker Salvatore Mesoraca from Laboratoire Albert Fert in Thales Research & Technology (Palaiseau, France) discussing the latest advancements on the topic.

**Date** Wednesday, February 25^th, 2026

**Time** 3 pm (Paris time)

Link: click here

**Location** Online

Abstract:

The Quantum Interference Antenna (QIA) is a magnetic field sensor based on arrays of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). Unlike conventional resonant RF antennas, which are limited in size by the wavelength of the detected signal, the QIA operates through a non-resonant interaction with the magnetic component of electromagnetic waves.  By exploiting quantum interference in Josephson junctions, it enables detection over an ultra-wide frequency range (from DC up to tens of GHz). When implemented with high-temperature superconductors, QIA also allows for compact and energy-efficient cryocooling. This combination of wide bandwidth and reduced size opens new opportunities in areas where conventional antennas are fundamentally limited.

The performance of a QIA depends on the coherent operation of thousands of Josephson junctions, requiring high homogeneity across the array and demanding precise and challenging nanoscale fabrication. This seminar will introduce the QIA principle, outline its advantages over classical antennas, explore its applications in different fields and present our recent progress on QIA devices based on high-temperature cuprate YBCO and fabricated using masked ion irradiation.

The consortium is proud to present a series of seminars called Josephine Seminars, in which consortium members, as well as external guests working on topics related to the project’s objectives, will give scientific talks. The seminars will be online and open, i.e. scientists from all over the world can participate. Each seminar will last 45 minutes plus 15 minutes for questions. You can attend the semianr via Zoom. Between 3 and 4 seminars will be organized annually. This is the first one of the series.

Here is a provisional, not exhaustive list of topics to be addressed over the years:

– Devices built with unconventional and high-temperature superconductors

– Dynamics of Josephson junctions out of equilibrium

– Electronic elements for neuromorphic computing

– Superconducting structures with magnetic materials

The topics and guests may vary according to the progress of the project and the achievement of its objectives.