Commensurate - Incommensurate vortex phase in a nanopatterned superconductor

TL;DR

This study uses magneto-optical imaging to explore vortex behavior in a nanopatterned superconductor, revealing heterogeneous pinning effects and a transition between commensurate and incommensurate vortex phases.

Contribution

It demonstrates how patterned holes influence vortex pinning and flux distribution, highlighting the coexistence of weak and strong pinning regimes in the superconductor.

Findings

Enhanced flux shielding in patterned regions

Observation of flux density increase near matching fields

Heterogeneous vortex pinning properties

Abstract

Magneto-optical imaging studies on a high-quality Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 single crystal partially patterned with a triangular array of holes reveal enhanced flux shielding in the patterned region of the sample. By mapping local magnetic field and shielding current density distributions at different applied magnetic fields and temperatures we determine the regime where pinning from the patterned holes dominates over the intrinsic pinning in the sample. In this regime, the flux density near the center of the patterned region is observed to increase when the applied field is varied from below the matching field to just above it, while significant magnetic field gradients are sustained in the patterned region. Our measurements indicate heterogeneous pinning properties of the vortex population, exhibiting signatures of both weak and strong pinning, in the nanopatterned region of the superconductor.