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Title: Spatially resolved penetration depth measurements and vortex manipulation in the ferromagnetic superconductor ErNi 2 B 2 C

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Institute for Basic Science, Pohang (Korea); Pohang Univ. of Science and Technology, Pohang (Korea)
  2. Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

We present a local probe study of the magnetic superconductor ErNi2B2C, using magnetic force microscopy at sub-Kelvin temperatures. ErNi2B2C is an ideal system to explore the effects of concomitant superconductivity and ferromagnetism. At 500 mK, far below the transition to a weakly ferromagnetic state, we directly observe a structured magnetic background on the micrometer scale. We determine spatially resolved absolute values of the magnetic penetration depth λ and study its temperature dependence as the system undergoes magnetic phase transitions from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic, and to weak ferromagnetic, all within the superconducting regime. We estimate the absolute pinning force of Abrikosov vortices, which shows a position dependence and temperature dependence as well, and discuss the possibility of the purported spontaneous vortex formation.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1221930
Report Number(s):
IS-J--8771
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 92; ISSN 1098-0121; ISSN PRBMDO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Magnetic order and crystal structure in the superconducting RNi 2 B 2 C materials journal March 1997
Magnetoelastic tetragonal-to-orthorhombic distortion in ErNi 2 B 2 C journal October 1997
Magnetic twin boundaries and flux pinning in the antiferromagnetic superconductor ErNi 2 B 2 C journal December 2000
Weak ferromagnetic order in the superconducting ErNi 2 11 B 2 C journal April 2002
Domain structure in ErNi 2 B 2 C and HoNi 2 B 2 C single crystals observed by a high-resolution Bitter decoration technique journal June 2005
Scanning Hall probe imaging of ErNi 2 B 2 C journal January 2006
Visualization of ferromagnetic domains in Er Ni 2 B 2 C single crystals: Weak ferromagnetism and its coexistence with superconductivity journal November 2007
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Observation of the spontaneous vortex phase in the weakly ferromagnetic superconductor ErNi 2 B 2 C: A penetration depth study journal March 2006

Cited By (3)

Pure odd-frequency superconductivity at the cores of proximity vortices journal January 2017
Visualization of the magnetic flux structure in phosphorus-doped EuFe2As2 single crystals journal January 2017
Pure Odd Frequency Superconductivity at the Cores of Proximity Vortices text January 2016

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