Evidence of fractional matching states in nanoperforated Nb thin film grown on porous silicon

TL;DR

This study reports the observation of fractional matching states in a nanoperforated niobium thin film, indicating complex vortex lattice configurations influenced by the nanoscale hole lattice.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of fractional matching states in Nb thin films with nanometer-scale perforations, expanding understanding of vortex behavior in nanostructured superconductors.

Findings

Observation of bumps at fractional matching fields 1/4, 1/9, 1/16

Identification of vortex lattice configurations influenced by hole lattice

Correlation between resistive transitions and vortex arrangements

Abstract

Resistive transitions have been measured on a perforated Nb thin film with a lattice of holes with the period of the order of ten nanometers. Bumps in the dR/dH versus H curves have been observed at the first matching field and its fractional values, 1/4, 1/9 and 1/16. This effect has been related to different vortex lattice configurations made available by the underlying lattice of holes.