Publication
Title
Vortex-antivortex 'molecular crystals' in hybrid ferromagnet/superconductor structures
Author
Abstract
We have used high resolution Hall probe microscopy to image vortex-antivortex (V-AV) 'molecules' induced in superconducting Pb films by the stray fields from square arrays of ferromagnetic Co/Pt dots. We have directly observed spontaneous V-AV pairs and studied how they interact with added 'free' (anti)fluxons in an applied magnetic field. We observe a rich variety of subtle phenomena arising from competing symmetries in our system which can either drive added antivortices to join AV shells around nanomagnets or stabilise the translationally symmetric AV lattice between the dots. Added vortices annihilate AV shells, leading eventually to a stable 'nulling' state with no free fluxons, which should exhibit a strongly (field-)enhanced critical current. At higher densities we actually observe vortex shells around the magnets, stabilised by the asymmetric anti-pinning potential. Our experimental findings are in good agreement with Ginzburg-Landau calculations.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of physics : conference series. - Bristol, 2004, currens
Publication
Bristol : Institute of Physics Publishing , 2009
ISSN
1742-6588 [print]
1742-6596 [online]
DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/150/5/052019
Volume/pages
150 :5 (2009) , 4 p.
Article Reference
052019
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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UAntwerpen
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Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
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Creation 05.03.2013
Last edited 07.10.2022
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