Vortex trapping and expulsion in thin-film YBa2Cu3O7−δ strips

K.H. Kuit, J.R. Kirtley, W. van der Veur, C.G. Molenaar, F.J.G. Roesthuis, A.G.P. Troeman, J.R. Clem, H. Hilgenkamp, H. Rogalla, . Flokstra

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Abstract

A scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope was used to image vortex trapping asa function of the magnetic induction during cooling in thin-film YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) strips for strip widths W from 2 to 50μm. We found that vortices were excluded from the strips when the induction Ba was below a critical induction Bc. We present a simple model for the vortex exclusion process which takes into account the vortex-antivortex pair production energy as well as the vortex Meissner and self-energies. This model predictsthat the real density n of trapped vortices is given by n=(Ba-BK) φ0 with BK=1.65φ0 /W2 and φ0=h/2e the superconducting flux quantum. This prediction is in good agreement with our experiments on YBCO, as well as with previous experiments on thin-film strips of niobium. We also report on the positions of the trapped vortices. We found that at low densities the vortices were trapped in a single row near the centers of the strips, with the relative intervortex spacing distribution width decreasing as the vortex density increased, a sign of longitudinal ordering. The critical induction for two rows forming in the 35μm wide strip was (2.89+1.91 0.93)Bc, consistent with a numerical prediction.
Original languageEnglish
Article number134504
Pages (from-to)134504-
JournalPhysical review B: Condensed matter and materials physics
Volume77
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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