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Spatially-resolved study of the Meissner effect in superconductors using NV-centers-in-diamond optical magnetometry

Journal Article · · New Journal of Physics

Non-invasive magnetic field sensing using optically-detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond was used to study spatial distribution of the magnetic induction upon penetration and expulsion of weak magnetic fields in several representative superconductors. Vector magnetic fields were measured on the surface of conventional, elemental Pb and Nb, and compound LuNi2B2C and unconventional iron-based superconductors Ba1-xKxFe2As2 (x = 0.34 optimal hole doping), Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 (x = 0.07 optimal electron doping), and stoichiometric CaKFe4As4, using variable-temperature confocal system with diffraction-limited spatial resolution. Magnetic induction profiles across the crystal edges were measured in zero-field-cooled and field-cooled conditions. While all superconductors show nearly perfect screening of magnetic fields applied after cooling to temperatures well below the superconducting transition, Tc, a range of very different behaviors was observed for Meissner expulsion upon cooling in static magnetic field from above Tc. Substantial conventional Meissner expulsion is found in LuNi2B2C, paramagnetic Meissner effect is found in Nb, and virtually no expulsion is observed in iron-based superconductors. In all cases, good correlation with macroscopic measurements of total magnetic moment is found.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1433656
Report Number(s):
IS-J--9590
Journal Information:
New Journal of Physics, Journal Name: New Journal of Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 20; ISSN 1367-2630
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (7)

Real-space probing of the local magnetic response of thin-film superconductors using single spin magnetometry text January 2018
Color Centers in Diamond as Novel Probes of Superconductivity journal September 2018
Tunnel diode resonator for precision magnetic susceptibility measurements in a mK temperature range and large DC magnetic fields journal September 2018
Neutral oxygen-vacancy defect in cubic boron nitride: A plausible qubit candidate journal March 2019
Measuring the Lower Critical Field of Superconductors Using Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond Optical Magnetometry journal January 2019
Measuring magnetic field texture in correlated electron systems under extreme conditions journal December 2019
Color centers in diamond as novel probes of superconductivity preprint January 2018

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