Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor
Using the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau approach, we analyze vortex states and vortex dynamics in type-I superconductor films with a thickness gradient in one direction. In the thinnest part of the structures under consideration, the equilibrium states manifest the typical type-II vortex patterns w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2015-01-01
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| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063032 |
| _version_ | 1797751161172787200 |
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| author | V N Gladilin J Ge J Gutierrez M Timmermans J Van de Vondel J Tempere J T Devreese V V Moshchalkov |
| author_facet | V N Gladilin J Ge J Gutierrez M Timmermans J Van de Vondel J Tempere J T Devreese V V Moshchalkov |
| author_sort | V N Gladilin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Using the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau approach, we analyze vortex states and vortex dynamics in type-I superconductor films with a thickness gradient in one direction. In the thinnest part of the structures under consideration, the equilibrium states manifest the typical type-II vortex patterns with only singly-quantized vortices. At the same time, in the regions with larger thickness the singly-quantized and giant vortices coexist, in a qualitative agreement with our scanning Hall probe microscopy measurements on relatively thick Pb films. In the presence of an external current applied perpendicularly to the thickness gradient direction, the singly-quantized vortices, which enter the wedge through its thinnest edge, merge into giant vortices when propagating to the thicker parts of the structure. Remarkably, the results of our simulations imply that at moderate external current densities a regime is possible where the winding number of giant vortices, formed as a result of vortex coalescence, takes preferentially (or even exclusively) the values given by positive integer powers of two. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:44:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b74faa850c34221bb2e18675f0fea30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:44:27Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b74faa850c34221bb2e18675f0fea302023-08-08T14:18:43ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302015-01-0117606303210.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063032Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductorV N Gladilin0J Ge1J Gutierrez2M Timmermans3J Van de Vondel4J Tempere5J T Devreese6V V Moshchalkov7INPAC—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, BelgiumINPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumINPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumINPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumINPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumTQC—Theory of Quantum and Complex Systems, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, BelgiumTQC—Theory of Quantum and Complex Systems, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, BelgiumINPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumUsing the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau approach, we analyze vortex states and vortex dynamics in type-I superconductor films with a thickness gradient in one direction. In the thinnest part of the structures under consideration, the equilibrium states manifest the typical type-II vortex patterns with only singly-quantized vortices. At the same time, in the regions with larger thickness the singly-quantized and giant vortices coexist, in a qualitative agreement with our scanning Hall probe microscopy measurements on relatively thick Pb films. In the presence of an external current applied perpendicularly to the thickness gradient direction, the singly-quantized vortices, which enter the wedge through its thinnest edge, merge into giant vortices when propagating to the thicker parts of the structure. Remarkably, the results of our simulations imply that at moderate external current densities a regime is possible where the winding number of giant vortices, formed as a result of vortex coalescence, takes preferentially (or even exclusively) the values given by positive integer powers of two.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063032superconductorvortexGinzburg–Landau theory74.25.Uv74.25.Ha74.78.-w |
| spellingShingle | V N Gladilin J Ge J Gutierrez M Timmermans J Van de Vondel J Tempere J T Devreese V V Moshchalkov Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor New Journal of Physics superconductor vortex Ginzburg–Landau theory 74.25.Uv 74.25.Ha 74.78.-w |
| title | Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor |
| title_full | Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor |
| title_fullStr | Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor |
| title_short | Vortices in a wedge made of a type-I superconductor |
| title_sort | vortices in a wedge made of a type i superconductor |
| topic | superconductor vortex Ginzburg–Landau theory 74.25.Uv 74.25.Ha 74.78.-w |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063032 |
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