Measurement of mesoscopic High-$T_c$ superconductors using Si mechanical micro-oscillators

TL;DR

This paper investigates the magnetic properties of mesoscopic high-$T_c$ superconductors using Si micro-oscillators, revealing differences from bulk behavior and emphasizing the role of interlayer currents.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of micromechanical oscillators to measure magnetic properties of mesoscopic high-$T_c$ superconductors, providing new insights into vortex dynamics.

Findings

Detection of small magnetic signals in mesoscopic samples

Observation of differences in vortex behavior compared to bulk materials

Analysis based on inter and intra layer currents

Abstract

In a superconducting mesoscopic sample, with dimensions comparable to the London penetration depth, some properties are qualitatively different to those found in the bulk material. These properties include magnetization, vortex dynamics and ordering of the vortex lattice. In order to detect the small signals produced by this kind of samples, new instruments designed for the microscale are needed. In this work we use micromechanical oscillators to study the magnetic properties of a Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8 + \delta}$ disk with a diameter of 13.5 microns and a thickness of 2.5 microns. The discussion of our results is based on the existence and contribution of inter and intra layer currents.