Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in the vortex dynamics in superconducting hollow cylinders

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how the Aharonov-Bohm effect influences vortex dynamics in superconducting hollow cylinders, causing periodic resistance oscillations due to magnetic flux-induced orbit deflections.

Contribution

It reveals the direct impact of the Aharonov-Bohm effect on vortex motion and resistance oscillations in superconducting cylinders using time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory.

Findings

Resistance oscillations are periodic with magnetic flux due to AB effect.

Vortex and antivortex orbits are deflected periodically by magnetic flux.

The effect is robust and observable in vortex dynamics.

Abstract

Using time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory we demonstrate that the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect, resulting from a Berry phase shift of the (macroscopic) wavefunction, is revealed through the dynamics of topological phase defects present in that same wavefunction. We study vortices and antivortices on the surface of a hollow superconducting cylinder, moving on circular orbits as they are subjected to the force from the current flowing parallel to the cylinder axis. Due to the AB effect the orbit deflections, caused by a magnetic field component along the cylinder axis, become periodic as a function of field, leading to strong and robust resistance oscillations.