Coupled domain structures in superconductor/ferromagnet Nb-Fe/garnet bilayers.

Journal Article · Mon Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Phys. Rev. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.100502· OSTI ID:992838

Vlasko-Vlasov, V; Welp, U; Kwok, W; Rosenmann, D; Claus, H; Buzdin, A A; Melnikov, A

We investigate the magnetic structure in a superconducting Nb and ferromagnetic garnet hybrid film. Direct magneto-optical observations reveal a strong interaction between the superconducting vortices in Nb and the magnetic domains in the garnet, resulting in a unique coupled domain structure. The cooperative motion of vortices and domain walls results in an enhanced pinning and a modified electromagnetic response of the hybrid similar to that in type I superconductors. Application of ac field, routinely used for equilibration of domains, leads to their significant contraction. Our calculations explain this effect by a domain shrinkage instability induced by the vortex annihilation around oscillating domain walls.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 992838
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-67696; TRN: US201022%%581
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 82, Issue Sep. 13, 2010
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANNIHILATION
CONTRACTION
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
GARNETS
INSTABILITY
SHRINKAGE
STRONG INTERACTIONS
TYPE-I SUPERCONDUCTORS
VORTICES