Probing dynamics and pinning of single vortices in superconductors at nanometer scales.

ABSTRACT: The dynamics of quantized magnetic vortices and their pinning by materials defects determine electromagnetic properties of superconductors, particularly their ability to carry non-dissipative currents. Despite recent advances in the understanding of the complex physics of vortex matter, the behavior of vortices driven by current through a multi-scale potential of the actual materials defects is still not well understood, mostly due to the scarcity of appropriate experimental tools capable of tracing vortex trajectories on nanometer scales. Using a novel scanning superconducting quantum interference microscope we report here an investigation of controlled dynamics of vortices in lead films with sub-Angstrom spatial resolution and unprecedented sensitivity. We measured, for the first time, t

SUBMITTER: Embon L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4288220 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature