1
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Keren I, Gutfreund A, Noah A, Fridman N, Di Bernardo A, Steinberg H, Anahory Y. Chip-Integrated Vortex Manipulation. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:4669-4674. [PMID: 36917692 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The positions of Abrikosov vortices have long been considered as means to encode classical information. Although it is possible to move individual vortices using local probes, the challenge of scalable on-chip vortex-control remains outstanding, especially when considering the demands of controlling multiple vortices. Realization of vortex logic requires means to shuttle vortices reliably between engineered pinning potentials, while concomitantly keeping all other vortices fixed. We demonstrate such capabilities using Nb loops patterned below a NbSe2 layer. SQUID-on-Tip (SOT) microscopy reveals that the loops localize vortices in designated sites to a precision better than 100 nm; they realize "push" and "pull" operations of vortices as far as 3 μm. Successive application of such operations shuttles a vortex between adjacent loops. Our results may be used as means to integrate vortices in future quantum circuitry. Strikingly, we demonstrate a winding operation, paving the way for future topological quantum computing and simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Keren
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Alon Gutfreund
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Avia Noah
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Nofar Fridman
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Angelo Di Bernardo
- Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, Universitätstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Hadar Steinberg
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yonathan Anahory
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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2
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Fan P, Chen H, Zhou X, Cao L, Li G, Li M, Qian G, Xing Y, Shen C, Wang X, Jin C, Gu G, Ding H, Gao HJ. Nanoscale Manipulation of Wrinkle-Pinned Vortices in Iron-Based Superconductors. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:4541-4547. [PMID: 37162755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The controlled manipulation of Abrikosov vortices is essential for both fundamental science and logical applications. However, achieving nanoscale manipulation of vortices while simultaneously measuring the local density of states within them remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the manipulation of Abrikosov vortices by moving the pinning center, namely one-dimensional wrinkles, on the terminal layers of Fe(Te,Se) and LiFeAs, by utilizing low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S). The wrinkles trap the Abrikosov vortices induced by the external magnetic field. In some of the wrinkle-pinned vortices, robust zero-bias conductance peaks are observed. We tailor the wrinkle into short pieces and manipulate the wrinkles by using an STM tip. Strikingly, we demonstrate that the pinned vortices move together with these wrinkles even at high magnetic field up to 6 T. Our results provide a universal and effective routine for manipulating wrinkle-pinned vortices and simultaneously measuring the local density of states on the iron-based superconductor surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Fan
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Hui Chen
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, Anhui 230088, P. R. China
| | - Xingtai Zhou
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Lu Cao
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Geng Li
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, Anhui 230088, P. R. China
| | - Meng Li
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Guojian Qian
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Yuqing Xing
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Chengmin Shen
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Xiancheng Wang
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Changqing Jin
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Genda Gu
- Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Hong Ding
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Hong-Jun Gao
- Beijing National Center for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, Anhui 230088, P. R. China
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3
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Banerjee A, Geier M, Rahman MA, Sanchez DS, Thomas C, Wang T, Manfra MJ, Flensberg K, Marcus CM. Control of Andreev Bound States Using Superconducting Phase Texture. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:116203. [PMID: 37001098 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.116203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Andreev bound states with opposite phase-inversion asymmetries are observed in local tunneling spectra at the two ends of a superconductor-semiconductor-superconductor planar Josephson junction in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field, while the nonlocal spectra remain phase symmetric. Spectral signatures agree with a theoretical model, yielding a physical picture in which phase textures in superconducting leads localize and control the position of Andreev bound states in the junction, demonstrating a simple means of controlling the position and size of Andreev states within a planar junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Banerjee
- Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Max Geier
- Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Ahnaf Rahman
- Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel S Sanchez
- Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Candice Thomas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Tian Wang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Michael J Manfra
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
- School of Materials Engineering and Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Karsten Flensberg
- Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charles M Marcus
- Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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4
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Direct observation of vortices in an electron fluid. Nature 2022; 607:74-80. [PMID: 35794267 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04794-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Vortices are the hallmarks of hydrodynamic flow. Strongly interacting electrons in ultrapure conductors can display signatures of hydrodynamic behaviour, including negative non-local resistance1-4, higher-than-ballistic conduction5-7, Poiseuille flow in narrow channels8-10 and violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law11. Here we provide a visualization of whirlpools in an electron fluid. By using a nanoscale scanning superconducting quantum interference device on a tip12, we image the current distribution in a circular chamber connected through a small aperture to a current-carrying strip in the high-purity type II Weyl semimetal WTe2. In this geometry, the Gurzhi momentum diffusion length and the size of the aperture determine the vortex stability phase diagram. We find that vortices are present for only small apertures, whereas the flow is laminar (non-vortical) for larger apertures. Near the vortical-to-laminar transition, we observe the single vortex in the chamber splitting into two vortices; this behaviour is expected only in the hydrodynamic regime and is not anticipated for ballistic transport. These findings suggest a new mechanism of hydrodynamic flow in thin pure crystals such that the spatial diffusion of electron momenta is enabled by small-angle scattering at the surfaces instead of the routinely invoked electron-electron scattering, which becomes extremely weak at low temperatures. This surface-induced para-hydrodynamics, which mimics many aspects of conventional hydrodynamics including vortices, opens new possibilities for exploring and using electron fluidics in high-mobility electron systems.
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5
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Anahory Y, Naren HR, Lachman EO, Buhbut Sinai S, Uri A, Embon L, Yaakobi E, Myasoedov Y, Huber ME, Klajn R, Zeldov E. SQUID-on-tip with single-electron spin sensitivity for high-field and ultra-low temperature nanomagnetic imaging. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:3174-3182. [PMID: 31967152 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr08578e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Scanning nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices (nanoSQUIDs) are of growing interest for highly sensitive quantitative imaging of magnetic, spintronic, and transport properties of low-dimensional systems. Utilizing specifically designed grooved quartz capillaries pulled into a sharp pipette, we have fabricated the smallest SQUID-on-tip (SOT) devices with effective diameters down to 39 nm. Integration of a resistive shunt in close proximity to the pipette apex combined with self-aligned deposition of In and Sn, has resulted in SOTs with a flux noise of 42 nΦ0 Hz-1/2, yielding a record low spin noise of 0.29 μB Hz-1/2. In addition, the new SOTs function at sub-Kelvin temperatures and in high magnetic fields of over 2.5 T. Integrating the SOTs into a scanning probe microscope allowed us to image the stray field of a single Fe3O4 nanocube at 300 mK. Our results show that the easy magnetization axis direction undergoes a transition from the 〈111〉 direction at room temperature to an in-plane orientation, which could be attributed to the Verwey phase transition in Fe3O4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Anahory
- Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel.
| | - H R Naren
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - E O Lachman
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - S Buhbut Sinai
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - A Uri
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - L Embon
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - E Yaakobi
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Y Myasoedov
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - M E Huber
- Departments of Physics and Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver 80217, USA
| | - R Klajn
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - E Zeldov
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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6
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Polshyn H, Naibert T, Budakian R. Manipulating Multivortex States in Superconducting Structures. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:5476-5482. [PMID: 31246034 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a method for manipulating small ensembles of vortices in multiply connected superconducting structures. A micron-size magnetic particle attached to the tip of a silicon cantilever is used to locally apply magnetic flux through the superconducting structure. By scanning the tip over the surface of the device and by utilizing the dynamical coupling between the vortices and the cantilever, a high-resolution spatial map of the different vortex configurations is obtained. Moving the tip to a particular location in the map stabilizes a distinct multivortex configuration. Thus, the scanning of the tip over a particular trajectory in space permits nontrivial operations to be performed, such as braiding of individual vortices within a larger vortex ensemble-a key capability required by many proposals for topological quantum computing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hryhoriy Polshyn
- Department of Physics , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
- Department of Physics , University of California , Santa Barbara , California 93106 , United States
| | - Tyler Naibert
- Department of Physics , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Raffi Budakian
- Department of Physics , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
- Department of Physics , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , ON , Canada , N2L3G1
- Institute for Quantum Computing , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , ON , Canada , N2L3G1
- Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics , Waterloo , ON , Canada , N2L2Y5
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research , Toronto , ON , Canada , M5G1Z8
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7
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Shperber Y, Vardi N, Persky E, Wissberg S, Huber ME, Kalisky B. Scanning SQUID microscopy in a cryogen-free cooler. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2019; 90:053702. [PMID: 31153251 DOI: 10.1063/1.5087060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy is a powerful tool for investigating electronic states at surfaces and interfaces by mapping their magnetic signal. SQUID operation requires cryogenic temperatures, which are typically achieved by immersing the cryostat in liquid helium. Making a transition to cryogen free systems is desirable, but has been challenging, as electric noise and vibrations are increased in such systems. We report on the successful operation of a scanning SQUID microscope in a modified Montana Instruments cryogen-free cooler with a base temperature of 4.3 K. We demonstrate scanning SQUID measurements with flux noise performance comparable to a wet system and correlate the sensor-sample vibrations to the cryocooler operation frequencies. In addition, we demonstrate successful operation in a variety of SQUID operation modes, including mapping static magnetic fields, measurement of local susceptibility, and spatial mapping of current flow distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishai Shperber
- Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Naor Vardi
- Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Eylon Persky
- Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Shai Wissberg
- Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Martin E Huber
- Departments of Physics and Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, USA
| | - Beena Kalisky
- Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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8
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Dobrovolskiy OV, Huth M, Shklovskij VA, Vovk RV. Mobile fluxons as coherent probes of periodic pinning in superconductors. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13740. [PMID: 29062080 PMCID: PMC5653780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14232-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of (quasi)particles with a periodic potential arises in various domains of science and engineering, such as solid-state physics, chemical physics, and communication theory. An attractive test ground to investigate this interaction is represented by superconductors with artificial pinning sites, where magnetic flux quanta (Abrikosov vortices) interact with the pinning potential U(r) = U(r + R) induced by a nanostructure. At a combination of microwave and dc currents, fluxons act as mobile probes of U(r): The ac component shakes the fluxons in the vicinity of their equilibrium points which are unequivocally determined by the local pinning force counterbalanced by the Lorentz force induced by the dc current, linked to the curvature of U(r) which can then be used for a successful fitting of the voltage responses. A good correlation of the deduced dependences U(r) with the cross sections of the nanostructures points to that pinning is primarily caused by vortex length reduction. Our findings pave a new route to a non-destructive evaluation of periodic pinning in superconductor thin films. The approach should also apply to a broad class of systems whose evolution in time can be described by the coherent motion of (quasi)particles in a periodic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr V Dobrovolskiy
- Physikalisches Institut, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany. .,Physics Department, V. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine.
| | - Michael Huth
- Physikalisches Institut, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Valerij A Shklovskij
- Physics Department, V. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine
| | - Ruslan V Vovk
- Physics Department, V. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine
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9
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Ge JY, Gladilin VN, Tempere J, Devreese J, Moshchalkov VV. Controlled Generation of Quantized Vortex-Antivortex Pairs in a Superconducting Condensate. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:5003-5007. [PMID: 28693319 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b02180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Quantized vortices, as topological defects, play an important role in both physics and technological applications of superconductors. Normally, the nucleation of vortices requires the presence of a high magnetic field or current density, which allow the vortices to enter from the sample boundaries. At the same time, the controllable generation of individual vortices inside a superconductor is still challenging. Here, we report the controllable creation of single quantum vortices and antivortices at any desirable position inside a superconductor. We exploit the local heating effect of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip: superconductivity is locally suppressed by the tip and vortex-antivortex pairs are generated when supercurrent flows around the hot spot. The experimental results are well-explained by theoretical simulations within the Ginzburg-Landau approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Yi Ge
- INPAC-Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vladimir N Gladilin
- INPAC-Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
- TQC-Theory of Quantum and Complex Systems, Universiteit Antwerpen , Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Jacques Tempere
- TQC-Theory of Quantum and Complex Systems, Universiteit Antwerpen , Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Jozef Devreese
- TQC-Theory of Quantum and Complex Systems, Universiteit Antwerpen , Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Victor V Moshchalkov
- INPAC-Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Imaging of super-fast dynamics and flow instabilities of superconducting vortices. Nat Commun 2017; 8:85. [PMID: 28729642 PMCID: PMC5519736 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00089-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantized magnetic vortices driven by electric current determine key electromagnetic properties of superconductors. While the dynamic behavior of slow vortices has been thoroughly investigated, the physics of ultrafast vortices under strong currents remains largely unexplored. Here, we use a nanoscale scanning superconducting quantum interference device to image vortices penetrating into a superconducting Pb film at rates of tens of GHz and moving with velocities of up to tens of km/s, which are not only much larger than the speed of sound but also exceed the pair-breaking speed limit of superconducting condensate. These experiments reveal formation of mesoscopic vortex channels which undergo cascades of bifurcations as the current and magnetic field increase. Our numerical simulations predict metamorphosis of fast Abrikosov vortices into mixed Abrikosov-Josephson vortices at even higher velocities. This work offers an insight into the fundamental physics of dynamic vortex states of superconductors at high current densities, crucial for many applications.Ultrafast vortex dynamics driven by strong currents define eletromagnetic properties of superconductors, but it remains unexplored. Here, Embon et al. use a unique scanning microscopy technique to image steady-state penetration of super-fast vortices into a superconducting Pb film at rates of tens of GHz and velocities up to tens of km/s.
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11
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Kalcheim Y, Katzir E, Zeides F, Katz N, Paltiel Y, Millo O. Dynamic Control of the Vortex Pinning Potential in a Superconductor Using Current Injection through Nanoscale Patterns. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:2934-2939. [PMID: 28406304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Control over the vortex potential at the nanoscale in a superconductor is a subject of great interest for both fundamental and technological reasons. Many methods for achieving artificial pinning centers have been demonstrated, for example, with magnetic nanostructures or engineered imperfections, yielding many intriguing effects. However, these pinning mechanisms do not offer dynamic control over the strength of the patterned vortex potential because they involve static nanostructures created in or near the superconductor. Dynamic control has been achieved with scanning probe methods on the single vortex level but these are difficult so scale up. Here, we show that by applying controllable nanopatterned current injection, the superconductor can be locally driven out of equilibrium, creating an artificial vortex potential that can be tuned by the magnitude of the injected current, yielding a unique vortex channeling effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Kalcheim
- Racah Institute of Physics and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology and ‡Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Eran Katzir
- Racah Institute of Physics and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology and ‡Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Felix Zeides
- Racah Institute of Physics and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology and ‡Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Nadav Katz
- Racah Institute of Physics and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology and ‡Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yossi Paltiel
- Racah Institute of Physics and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology and ‡Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Oded Millo
- Racah Institute of Physics and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology and ‡Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanothechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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12
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Nanoscale assembly of superconducting vortices with scanning tunnelling microscope tip. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13880. [PMID: 27934960 PMCID: PMC5155158 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Vortices play a crucial role in determining the properties of superconductors as well as their applications. Therefore, characterization and manipulation of vortices, especially at the single-vortex level, is of great importance. Among many techniques to study single vortices, scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) stands out as a powerful tool, due to its ability to detect the local electronic states and high spatial resolution. However, local control of superconductivity as well as the manipulation of individual vortices with the STM tip is still lacking. Here we report a new function of the STM, namely to control the local pinning in a superconductor through the heating effect. Such effect allows us to quench the superconducting state at nanoscale, and leads to the growth of vortex clusters whose size can be controlled by the bias voltage. We also demonstrate the use of an STM tip to assemble single-quantum vortices into desired nanoscale configurations.
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13
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Uri A, Meltzer AY, Anahory Y, Embon L, Lachman EO, Halbertal D, Hr N, Myasoedov Y, Huber ME, Young AF, Zeldov E. Electrically Tunable Multiterminal SQUID-on-Tip. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:6910-6915. [PMID: 27672705 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b02841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We present a new nanoscale superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) whose interference pattern can be shifted electrically in situ. The device consists of a nanoscale four-terminal-four-junction SQUID fabricated at the apex of a sharp pipet using a self-aligned three-step deposition of Pb. In contrast to conventional two-terminal-two-junction SQUIDs that display optimal sensitivity when flux biased to about a quarter of the flux quantum, the additional terminals and junctions allow optimal sensitivity at arbitrary applied flux, thus eliminating the magnetic field "blind spots". We demonstrate spin sensitivity of 5 to 8 μB/Hz1/2 over a continuous field range of 0 to 0.5 T with promising applications for nanoscale scanning magnetic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviram Uri
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Alexander Y Meltzer
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yonathan Anahory
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Lior Embon
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ella O Lachman
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Dorri Halbertal
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Naren Hr
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yuri Myasoedov
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Martin E Huber
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Departments of Physics and Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado , Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
| | - Andrea F Young
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Department of Physics, University of California , Broida Hall, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Eli Zeldov
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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Abstract
Magnetic field can penetrate into type II superconductors in the form of Abrikosov vortices, which are magnetic flux tubes surrounded by circulating supercurrents often trapped at defects referred to as pinning sites. Although the average properties of the vortex matter in superconductors can be tuned with magnetic fields, temperature or electric currents, handling of individual Abrikosov vortices remains challenging and has been demonstrated only with sophisticated scanning local probe microscopies. Here we introduce a far-field optical method based on local heating of the superconductor with a focused laser beam to realize a fast and precise manipulation of individual vortices, in the same way as with optical tweezers. This simple approach provides the perfect basis for sculpting the magnetic flux profile in superconducting devices like a vortex lens or a vortex cleaner, without resorting to static pinning or ratchet effects. Manipulation of individual superconducting vortices remains challenging and has been demonstrated only in a sophisticated way. Here, Veshchunov et al. realize a fast and precise manipulation of individual vortices using a far-field optical method, providing a simple way towards optical control of Josephson transport.
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