Decoration of Josephson Vortices by Pancake Vortices in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox

TL;DR

This study uses magneto-optical imaging to observe how pancake vortices decorate Josephson vortices in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d, revealing interaction patterns, transitions, and local sample variations.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the interaction between pancake and Josephson vortices and demonstrates a sensitive imaging method for layered high-temperature superconductors.

Findings

Observation of period-doubling in decoration patterns

Migration of Josephson vortices between stacks

Detection of local anisotropy variations

Abstract

Josephson vortices are imaged magneto-optically due to their decoration with pancake vortices in $Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+d}$ single crystals. Peculiarities of interaction between the pancake and Josephson vortices (JV) depending on the values of crossing fields and temperature are studied based on the observations of these decoration patterns. Evidences of the period-doubling in the decoration patterns compared to the JV stack period, migration of JV lines between neighboring stacks, and transitions between different JV configurations are reported. Imaging of the pancake/Josephson vortex decoration patterns over large areas is shown to be a sensitive tool for detecting local variations of the anisotropy and mapping imperfections in layered HTS samples.