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Imaging the spontaneous formation of vortex-antivortex pairs in planar superconductor/ferromagnet hybrid structures.

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B

Low-temperature magnetic force microscopy has been used to visualize spontaneous formation of vortex-antivortex pairs in hybrid ferromagnet/superconductor systems. Vortex-antivortex pairs are induced by the periodic stray field of the ferromagnet. We find general equilibrium conditions for which spontaneous vortex-antivortex pairs are formed during zero-field cooling of the hybrid ferromagnet/superconductor bilayers. Vortices can be generated by the ferromagnet domains in the absence of an external field and they are thermodynamically stable for values of the stray field and the period of the stripe magnetic domains that exceed a certain threshold.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
SC; Italian Ministry for Higher Education and Research
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1020702
Report Number(s):
ANL/MSD/JA-70312
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B Journal Issue: Jul. 7, 2011 Vol. 84; ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

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