Tunable pinning in superconducting films with magnetic micro-loops

TL;DR

This paper investigates how magnetic micro-loops influence flux pinning in superconducting films, demonstrating that different magnetic states of the micro-rings can tune the pinning strength, with vortex states producing weaker pinning.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control flux pinning in superconductors using magnetic micro-ring states, highlighting the impact of magnetic configuration on pinning effectiveness.

Findings

Magnetic micro-ring states can be tuned to modify flux pinning.

Vortex states produce weaker pinning compared to polarized states.

Magnetic configuration controls the pinning potential in superconductor/magnetic hybrid structures.

Abstract

We study the flux pinning properties of superconductor/magnetic micro-rings lattice hybrid structures. The used open triangular micromagnets represent an eight-fold degree of freedom system, with six polarized and two flux-closure possible states. By conveniently choosing the magnetic state of the underlying rings it is possible to induce different pinning potentials. We show that the magnetic vortex state with minimum stray field produces a weaker pinning in comparison with the polarized states.