1
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Yue WC, Yuan Z, Huang P, Sun Y, Gao T, Lyu YY, Tu X, Dong S, He L, Dong Y, Cao X, Kang L, Wang H, Wu P, Nisoli C, Wang YL. Toroidic phase transitions in a direct-kagome artificial spin ice. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41565-024-01666-6. [PMID: 38684808 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01666-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Ferrotoroidicity-the fourth form of primary ferroic order-breaks both space and time-inversion symmetry. So far, direct observation of ferrotoroidicity in natural materials remains elusive, which impedes the exploration of ferrotoroidic phase transitions. Here we overcome the limitations of natural materials using an artificial nanomagnet system that can be characterized at the constituent level and at different effective temperatures. We design a nanomagnet array as to realize a direct-kagome spin ice. This artificial spin ice exhibits robust toroidal moments and a quasi-degenerate ground state with two distinct low-temperature toroidal phases: ferrotoroidicity and paratoroidicity. Using magnetic force microscopy and Monte Carlo simulation, we demonstrate a phase transition between ferrotoroidicity and paratoroidicity, along with a cross-over to a non-toroidal paramagnetic phase. Our quasi-degenerate artificial spin ice in a direct-kagome structure provides a model system for the investigation of magnetic states and phase transitions that are inaccessible in natural materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Cheng Yue
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zixiong Yuan
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peiyuan Huang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yizhe Sun
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tan Gao
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang-Yang Lyu
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuecou Tu
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sining Dong
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Liang He
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ying Dong
- College of Metrology Measurement and Instrument, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xun Cao
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Kang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huabing Wang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China.
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Peiheng Wu
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cristiano Nisoli
- Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
| | - Yong-Lei Wang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China.
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou, China.
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2
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Generalized Gibbs Phase Rule and Multicriticality Applied to Magnetic Systems. ENTROPY 2021; 24:e24010063. [PMID: 35052088 PMCID: PMC8775071 DOI: 10.3390/e24010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A generalization of the original Gibbs phase rule is proposed in order to study the presence of single phases, multiphase coexistence, and multicritical phenomena in lattice spin magnetic models. The rule is based on counting the thermodynamic number of degrees of freedom, which strongly depends on the external fields needed to break the ground state degeneracy of the model. The phase diagrams of some spin Hamiltonians are analyzed according to this general phase rule, including general spin Ising and Blume–Capel models, as well as q-state Potts models. It is shown that by properly taking into account the intensive fields of the model in study, the generalized Gibbs phase rule furnishes a good description of the possible topology of the corresponding phase diagram. Although this scheme is unfortunately not able to locate the phase boundaries, it is quite useful to at least provide a good description regarding the possible presence of critical and multicritical surfaces, as well as isolated multicritical points.
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3
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Superconducting Properties and Electron Scattering Mechanisms in a Nb Film with a Single Weak-Link Excavated by Focused Ion Beam. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14237274. [PMID: 34885429 PMCID: PMC8658209 DOI: 10.3390/ma14237274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Granularity is one of the main features restricting the maximum current which a superconductor can carry without losses, persisting as an important research topic when applications are concerned. To directly observe its effects on a typical thin superconducting specimen, we have modeled the simplest possible granular system by fabricating a single artificial weak-link in the center of a high-quality Nb film using the focused ion beam technique. Then, its microstructural, magnetic, and electric properties in both normal and superconducting states were studied. AC susceptibility, DC magnetization, and magneto-transport measurements reveal well-known granularity signatures and how they negatively affect superconductivity. Moreover, we also investigate the normal state electron scattering mechanisms in the Boltzmann theory framework. The results clearly demonstrate the effect of the milling technique, giving rise to an additional quadratic-in-temperature contribution to the usual cubic-in-temperature sd band scattering for the Nb film. Finally, by analyzing samples with varying density of incorporated defects, the emergence of the additional contribution is correlated to a decrease in their critical temperature, in agreement with recent theoretical results.
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4
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Rodríguez-Gallo C, Ortiz-Ambriz A, Tierno P. Topological Boundary Constraints in Artificial Colloidal Ice. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:188001. [PMID: 34018772 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.188001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The effect of boundaries and how these can be used to influence the bulk behavior in geometrically frustrated systems are both long-standing puzzles, often relegated to a secondary role. Here, we use numerical simulations and "proof of concept" experiments to demonstrate that boundaries can be engineered to control the bulk behavior in a colloidal artificial ice. We show that an antiferromagnetic frontier forces the system to rapidly reach the ground state (GS), as opposed to the commonly implemented open or periodic boundary conditions. We also show that strategically placing defects at the corners generates novel bistable states, or topological strings, which result from competing GS regions in the bulk. Our results could be generalized to other frustrated micro- and nanostructures where boundary conditions may be engineered with lithographic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rodríguez-Gallo
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Ortiz-Ambriz
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pietro Tierno
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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5
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Duzgun A, Nisoli C. Skyrmion Spin Ice in Liquid Crystals. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:047801. [PMID: 33576672 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.047801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We propose the first skyrmion spin ice, realized via confined, interacting liquid crystal skyrmions. Skyrmions in a chiral nematic liquid crystal behave as quasiparticles that can be dynamically confined, bound, and created or annihilated individually with ease and precision. We show that these quasiparticles can be employed to realize binary variables that interact to form ice-rule states. Because of their unique versatility, liquid crystal skyrmions can open entirely novel avenues in the field of frustrated systems. More broadly, our findings also demonstrate the viability of liquid crystal skyrmions as elementary degrees of freedom in the design of collective complex behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayhan Duzgun
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Cristiano Nisoli
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
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Lyu YY, Ma X, Xu J, Wang YL, Xiao ZL, Dong S, Janko B, Wang H, Divan R, Pearson JE, Wu P, Kwok WK. Reconfigurable Pinwheel Artificial-Spin-Ice and Superconductor Hybrid Device. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:8933-8939. [PMID: 33252230 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The ability to control the potential landscape in a medium of interacting particles could lead to intriguing collective behavior and innovative functionalities. Here, we utilize spatially reconfigurable magnetic potentials of a pinwheel artificial-spin-ice (ASI) structure to tailor the motion of superconducting vortices. The reconstituted chain structures of the magnetic charges in the pinwheel ASI and the strong interaction between magnetic charges and superconducting vortices allow significant modification of the transport properties of the underlying superconducting thin film, resulting in a reprogrammable resistance state that enables a reversible and switchable vortex Hall effect. Our results highlight an effective and simple method of using ASI as an in situ reconfigurable nanoscale energy landscape to design reprogrammable superconducting electronics, which could also be applied to the in situ control of properties and functionalities in other magnetic particle systems, such as magnetic skyrmions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Lyu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame 46556, Indiana United States
| | - Jing Xu
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Yong-Lei Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhi-Li Xiao
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
- Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115, United States
| | - Sining Dong
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Boldizsar Janko
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame 46556, Indiana United States
| | - Huabing Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Ralu Divan
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - John E Pearson
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Peiheng Wu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wai-Kwong Kwok
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
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7
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Libál A, Lee DY, Ortiz-Ambriz A, Reichhardt C, Reichhardt CJO, Tierno P, Nisoli C. Ice rule fragility via topological charge transfer in artificial colloidal ice. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4146. [PMID: 30297820 PMCID: PMC6175946 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06631-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial particle ices are model systems of constrained, interacting particles. They have been introduced theoretically to study ice-manifolds emergent from frustration, along with domain wall and grain boundary dynamics, doping, pinning-depinning, controlled transport of topological defects, avalanches, and memory effects. Recently such particle-based ices have been experimentally realized with vortices in nano-patterned superconductors or gravitationally trapped colloids. Here we demonstrate that, although these ices are generally considered equivalent to magnetic spin ices, they can access a novel spectrum of phenomenologies that are inaccessible to the latter. With experiments, theory and simulations we demonstrate that in mixed coordination geometries, entropy-driven negative monopoles spontaneously appear at a density determined by the vertex-mixture ratio. Unlike its spin-based analogue, the colloidal system displays a "fragile ice" manifold, where local energetics oppose the ice rule, which is instead enforced through conservation of the global topological charge. The fragile colloidal ice, stabilized by topology, can be spontaneously broken by topological charge transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Libál
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.,Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj, 400084, Romania
| | - Dong Yun Lee
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, España
| | - Antonio Ortiz-Ambriz
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, España.,Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Charles Reichhardt
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | | | - Pietro Tierno
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, España.,Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.,Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Cristiano Nisoli
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA. .,Institute for Materials Science, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
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8
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Tunable and switchable magnetic dipole patterns in nanostructured superconductors. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2576. [PMID: 29968732 PMCID: PMC6030140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05045-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Design and manipulation of magnetic moment arrays have been at the focus of studying the interesting cooperative physical phenomena in various magnetic systems. However, long-range ordered magnetic moments are rather difficult to achieve due to the excited states arising from the relatively weak exchange interactions between the localized moments. Here, using a nanostructured superconductor, we investigate a perfectly ordered magnetic dipole pattern with the magnetic poles having the same distribution as the magnetic charges in an artificial spin ice. The magnetic states can simply be switched on/off by applying a current flowing through nanopatterned area. Moreover, by coupling magnetic dipoles with the pinned vortex lattice, we are able to erase the positive/negative poles, resulting in a magnetic dipole pattern of only one polarity, analogous to the recently predicted vortex ice. These switchable and tunable magnetic dipole patterns open pathways for the study of exotic ordering phenomena in magnetic systems.
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9
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Wang YL, Ma X, Xu J, Xiao ZL, Snezhko A, Divan R, Ocola LE, Pearson JE, Janko B, Kwok WK. Switchable geometric frustration in an artificial-spin-ice-superconductor heterosystem. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 13:560-565. [PMID: 29892018 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-018-0162-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Geometric frustration emerges when local interaction energies in an ordered lattice structure cannot be simultaneously minimized, resulting in a large number of degenerate states. The numerous degenerate configurations may lead to practical applications in microelectronics1, such as data storage, memory and logic2. However, it is difficult to achieve very high degeneracy, especially in a two-dimensional system3,4. Here, we showcase in situ controllable geometric frustration with high degeneracy in a two-dimensional flux-quantum system. We create this in a superconducting thin film placed underneath a reconfigurable artificial-spin-ice structure5. The tunable magnetic charges in the artificial-spin-ice strongly interact with the flux quanta in the superconductor, enabling switching between frustrated and crystallized flux quanta states. The different states have measurable effects on the superconducting critical current profile, which can be reconfigured by precise selection of the spin-ice magnetic state through the application of an external magnetic field. We demonstrate the applicability of these effects by realizing a reprogrammable flux quanta diode. The tailoring of the energy landscape of interacting 'particles' using artificial-spin-ices provides a new paradigm for the design of geometric frustration, which could illuminate a path to control new functionalities in other material systems, such as magnetic skyrmions6, electrons and holes in two-dimensional materials7,8, and topological insulators9, as well as colloids in soft materials10-13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Lei Wang
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jing Xu
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
- Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Zhi-Li Xiao
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA.
- Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA.
| | - Alexey Snezhko
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Ralu Divan
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Leonidas E Ocola
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
| | - John E Pearson
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Boldizsar Janko
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
| | - Wai-Kwong Kwok
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
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10
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Nisoli C. Unexpected Phenomenology in Particle-Based Ice Absent in Magnetic Spin Ice. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 120:167205. [PMID: 29756919 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.167205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
While particle-based ices are often considered essentially equivalent to magnet-based spin ices, the two differ essentially in frustration and energetics. We show that at equilibrium particle-based ices correspond exactly to spin ices coupled to a background field. In trivial geometries, such a field has no effect, and the two systems are indeed thermodynamically equivalent. In other cases, however, the field controls a richer phenomenology, absent in magnetic ices, and still largely unexplored: ice rule fragility, topological charge transfer, radial polarization, decimation induced disorder, and glassiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Nisoli
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
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11
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Libál A, Nisoli C, Reichhardt CJO, Reichhardt C. Inner Phases of Colloidal Hexagonal Spin Ice. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 120:027204. [PMID: 29376707 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.027204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Using numerical simulations that mimic recent experiments on hexagonal colloidal ice, we show that colloidal hexagonal artificial spin ice exhibits an inner phase within its ice state that has not been observed previously. Under increasing colloid-colloid repulsion, the initially paramagnetic system crosses into a disordered ice regime, then forms a topologically charge ordered state with disordered colloids, and finally reaches a threefold degenerate, ordered ferromagnetic state. This is reminiscent of, yet distinct from, the inner phases of the magnetic kagome spin ice analog. The difference in the inner phases of the two systems is explained by their difference in energetics and frustration.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Libál
- Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
- Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj 400084, Romania
| | - C Nisoli
- Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - C J O Reichhardt
- Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - C Reichhardt
- Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
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12
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Parallel magnetic field suppresses dissipation in superconducting nanostrips. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E10274-E10280. [PMID: 29133405 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619550114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The motion of Abrikosov vortices in type-II superconductors results in a finite resistance in the presence of an applied electric current. Elimination or reduction of the resistance via immobilization of vortices is the "holy grail" of superconductivity research. Common wisdom dictates that an increase in the magnetic field escalates the loss of energy since the number of vortices increases. Here we show that this is no longer true if the magnetic field and the current are applied parallel to each other. Our experimental studies on the resistive behavior of a superconducting Mo0.79Ge0.21 nanostrip reveal the emergence of a dissipative state with increasing magnetic field, followed by a pronounced resistance drop, signifying a reentrance to the superconducting state. Large-scale simulations of the 3D time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model indicate that the intermediate resistive state is due to an unwinding of twisted vortices. When the magnetic field increases, this instability is suppressed due to a better accommodation of the vortex lattice to the pinning configuration. Our findings show that magnetic field and geometrical confinement can suppress the dissipation induced by vortex motion and thus radically improve the performance of superconducting materials.
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13
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Talantsev EF, Crump WP, Tallon JL. Universal scaling of the self-field critical current in superconductors: from sub-nanometre to millimetre size. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10010. [PMID: 28855601 PMCID: PMC5577115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10226-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Universal scaling behaviour in superconductors has significantly elucidated fluctuation and phase transition phenomena in these materials. However, universal behaviour for the most practical property, the critical current, was not contemplated because prevailing models invoke nucleation and migration of flux vortices. Such migration depends critically on pinning, and the detailed microstructure naturally differs from one material to another, even within a single material. Through microstructural engineering there have been ongoing improvements in the field-dependent critical current, thus illustrating its non-universal behaviour. But here we demonstrate the universal size scaling of the self-field critical current for any superconductor, of any symmetry, geometry or band multiplicity. Key to our analysis is the huge range of sample dimensions, from single-atomic-layer to mm-scale. These have widely variable microstructure with transition temperatures ranging from 1.2 K to the current record, 203 K. In all cases the critical current is governed by a fundamental surface current density limit given by the relevant critical field divided by the penetration depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- E F Talantsev
- Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 33436, Lower Hutt, 5046, New Zealand.
| | - W P Crump
- Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 33436, Lower Hutt, 5046, New Zealand
| | - J L Tallon
- Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 33436, Lower Hutt, 5046, New Zealand
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, P.O. Box 33436, Lower Hutt, 5046, New Zealand
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14
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Dynamic Control of Topological Defects in Artificial Colloidal Ice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:651. [PMID: 28381863 PMCID: PMC5428472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00452-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We demonstrate the use of an external field to stabilize and control defect lines connecting topological monopoles in spin ice. For definiteness we perform Brownian dynamics simulations with realistic units mimicking experimentally realized artificial colloidal spin ice systems, and show how defect lines can grow, shrink or move under the action of direct and alternating fields. Asymmetric alternating biasing forces can cause the defect line to ratchet in either direction, making it possible to precisely position the line at a desired location. Such manipulation could be employed to achieve mobile information storage in these metamaterials.
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15
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Wang YL, Xiao ZL, Snezhko A, Xu J, Ocola LE, Divan R, Pearson JE, Crabtree GW, Kwok WK. Rewritable artificial magnetic charge ice. Science 2016; 352:962-6. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Trastoy J, Malnou M, Ulysse C, Bernard R, Bergeal N, Faini G, Lesueur J, Briatico J, Villegas JE. Freezing and thawing of artificial ice by thermal switching of geometric frustration in magnetic flux lattices. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 9:710-715. [PMID: 25129072 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2014.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The problem of an ensemble of repulsive particles on a potential-energy landscape is common to many physical systems and has been studied in multiple artificial playgrounds. However, the latter usually involve fixed energy landscapes, thereby impeding in situ investigations of the particles' collective response to controlled changes in the landscape geometry. Here, we experimentally realize a system in which the geometry of the potential-energy landscape can be switched using temperature as the control knob. This realization is based on a high-temperature superconductor in which we engineer a nanoscale spatial modulation of the superconducting condensate. Depending on the temperature, the flux quanta induced by an applied magnetic field see either a geometrically frustrated energy landscape that favours an ice-like flux ordering, or an unfrustrated landscape that yields a periodic flux distribution. This effect is reflected in a dramatic change in the superconductor's magneto-transport. The thermal switching of the energy landscape geometry opens new opportunities for the study of ordering and reorganization in repulsive particle manifolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Trastoy
- 1] Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, 1 ave. A. Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau, France [2] Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - M Malnou
- LPEM, ESPCI-CNRS-UPMC, 10 rue Vauquelin 75231 Paris, France
| | - C Ulysse
- CNRS, Phynano Team, Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures, route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France
| | - R Bernard
- 1] Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, 1 ave. A. Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau, France [2] Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - N Bergeal
- LPEM, ESPCI-CNRS-UPMC, 10 rue Vauquelin 75231 Paris, France
| | - G Faini
- CNRS, Phynano Team, Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures, route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France
| | - J Lesueur
- LPEM, ESPCI-CNRS-UPMC, 10 rue Vauquelin 75231 Paris, France
| | - J Briatico
- 1] Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, 1 ave. A. Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau, France [2] Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Javier E Villegas
- 1] Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, 1 ave. A. Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau, France [2] Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
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