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Imaging of super-fast dynamics and flow instabilities of superconducting vortices

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [4]
  1. Weizmann Inst. of Science, Rehovot (Israel). Dept. of Condensed Matter Physics; Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science
  2. Weizmann Inst. of Science, Rehovot (Israel). Dept. of Condensed Matter Physics; Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem (Israel). Racah Inst. of Physics
  3. Univ. of Antwerp (Belgium). Dept. of Physics; Univ. of Liege, (Belgium). Dept. of Physics
  4. Weizmann Inst. of Science, Rehovot (Israel). Dept. of Condensed Matter Physics
  5. Univ. of Colorado, Denver, CO (United States). Dept. of Physics and Electrical Engineering
  6. Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kharkov (Ukraine). Verkin Inst. for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering
  7. Univ. of Liege, (Belgium). Dept. of Physicsm
  8. Univ. of Antwerp (Belgium). Dept. of Physics
  9. Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States). Dept. of Physics
Quantized magnetic vortices driven by electric current determine key electromagnetic properties of superconductors. And while the dynamic behavior of slow vortices has been thoroughly investigated, the physics of ultrafast vortices under strong currents remains largely unexplored. Here, we use a nanoscale scanning superconducting quantum interference device to image vortices penetrating into a superconducting Pb film at rates of tens of GHz and moving with velocities of up to tens of km/s, which are not only much larger than the speed of sound but also exceed the pair-breaking speed limit of superconducting condensate. These experiments reveal formation of mesoscopic vortex channels which undergo cascades of bifurcations as the current and magnetic field increase. Our numerical simulations predict metamorphosis of fast Abrikosov vortices into mixed Abrikosov-Josephson vortices at even higher velocities. Our work offers an insight into the fundamental physics of dynamic vortex states of superconductors at high current densities, crucial for many applications.
Research Organization:
Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0010081
OSTI ID:
1393141
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 8; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Thermal coupling effect on the vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films: time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau simulations journal March 2018
Flux-flow instability in a strongly disordered superconducting strip with an edge barrier for vortex entry journal October 2019
Computer simulation of an electronic device for generation of electric oscillations by supercooled in electric field superconductors journal August 2019
Velocity fluctuations of vortices in driven two-dimensional vortex matter journal December 2018
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Fast Dynamics of Guided Magnetic Flux Quanta journal May 2019
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Resistive state of a thin superconducting strip with an engineered central defect journal July 2019
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Color centers in diamond as novel probes of superconductivity preprint January 2018
Local flux-flow instability in superconducting films near Tc text January 2019
SQUID-on-tip with single-electron spin sensitivity for high-field and ultra-low temperature nanomagnetic imaging text January 2020
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