Vortices on a superconducting nanoshell: phase diagram and dynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores vortex states on superconducting nanoshells, deriving a phase diagram and analyzing the coexistence and decay dynamics of various vortex configurations influenced by topology and magnetic fields.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of vortex states on spherical nanoshells and derives their phase diagram, highlighting the effects of curvature and topology on vortex behavior.

Findings

Giant vortex states can exist on superconducting nanoshells.

Curved geometry allows coexistence of vortex states with Meissner state.

Decay dynamics of vortices into vortex lattice analyzed.

Abstract

In superconductors, the search for special vortex states such as giant vortices focuses on laterally confined or nanopatterned thin superconducting films, disks, rings, or polygons. We examine the possibility to realize giant vortex states and states with non-uniform vorticity on a superconducting spherical nanoshell, due to the interplay of the topology and the applied magnetic field. We derive the phase diagram and identify where, as a function of the applied magnetic field, the shell thickness and the shell radius, these different vortex phases occur. Moreover, the curved geometry allows these states (or a vortex lattice) to coexist with a Meissner state, on the same curved film. We have examined the dynamics of the decay of giant vortices or states with non-uniform vorticity into a vortex lattice, when the magnetic field is adapted so that a phase boundary is crossed.