Domain Meissner state and spontaneous vortex-antivortex generation in the ferromagnetic superconductor EuFe₂(As_0.79P_0.21)₂.

ABSTRACT: The interplay between superconductivity and magnetism is one of the oldest enigmas in physics. Usually, the strong exchange field of ferromagnet suppresses singlet superconductivity via the paramagnetic effect. In EuFe₂(As_0.79P_0.21)₂, a material that becomes not only superconducting at 24.2 K but also ferromagnetic below 19 K, the coexistence of the two antagonistic phenomena becomes possible because of the unusually weak exchange field produced by the Eu subsystem. We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that when the ferromagnetism adds to superconductivity, the Meissner state becomes spontaneously inhomogeneous, characterized by a nanometer-scale striped domain structure. At yet lower temperature and without any externally applied magn

SUBMITTER: Stolyarov VS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6044740 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature