Using spin-polarized neutron reflectivity to probe mesoscopic vortex states in a Pb thin-film superconductor

Abstract

References (32)

No Citing Articles

Download: PDF (189 kB) or Buy this Article (US$25) (Use Article Pack)

A. J. Drew,^1,2 M. W. Wisemayer,² D. O. G. Heron,² S. Lister,² S. L. Lee,² A. Potenza,^3,4 C. H. Marrows,³ R. M. Dalgliesh,⁵ T. R. Charlton,⁵ and S. Langridge⁵
¹Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
²School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9SS Scotland, United Kingdom
³School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
⁴Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
⁵ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom

Received 3 September 2009; published 14 October 2009

Spin-polarizedneutron-reflectivity measurements have been performed on superconducting Pb films. Forfields applied in the plane of the film we areable to determine the magnetic field profile across the thicknessof the film in the superconducting state. This allows thedirect observation of distinct mesoscopic ground states in this geometry,from Meissner expulsion to a double row of vortices, whichoccur as a function of film thickness and external magneticfield. The data can be compared directly with solutions ofthe time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations, where we demonstrate good agreement betweendata and simulation. This provides a powerful demonstration of thiswidely applicable experimental technique to study mesoscopic ground states anda useful validation of this theoretical approach.

URL:	http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.134510
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevB.80.134510
PACS:	74.78.Db; 74.20.De; 74.25.Op 74.78.Db *Low-T_c* superconducting films 74.20.De Phenomenological theories of superconductivity 74.25.Op Mixed state, critical fields, and surface sheath** YEAR: 2009
KEYWORDS:	Ginzburg-Landau theory, ground states, lead, Meissner effect, mesoscopic systems, mixed state, superconducting thin films, type I superconductors, vortices

REFERENCES (32)

View in Separate Window/Tab

For access to fully linked references, you need to log in. For access to fully linked references, you need to Log in.

G. Blatter, M. V. Feigel'man, V. B. Geshkenbein, A. I. Larkin, and V. M. Vinokur, Rev. Mod. Phys. 66, 1125 (1994).
A. Drew, S. L. Lee1, D. Charalambous, A. Potenza, C. Marrows, H. Luetkens, A. Suter, T. Prokscha, R. Khasanov, E. Morenzoni, D. Ucko, and E. M. Forgan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 197201 (2005).
T. Kontos, M. Aprili, J. Lesueur, F. Genêt, B. Stephanidis, and R. Boursier, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 137007 (2002).
A. Yu. Rusanov, S. Habraken, and J. Aarts, Phys. Rev. B 73, 060505(R) (2006).
A. Potenza and C. H. Marrows, Phys. Rev. B 71, 180503(R) (2005).
P. L. Gammel, D. J. Bishop, G. J. Dolan, J. R. Kwo, C. A. Murray, L. F. Schneemeyer, and J. V. Waszczak, Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2592 (1987).
J. E. Bonevich, K. Harada, T. Matsuda, H. Kasai, T. Yoshida, G. Pozzi, and A. Tonomura, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 2952 (1993).
R. Gilardi, J. Mesot, A. Drew, U. Divakar, S. L. Lee, E. M. Forgan, O. Zaharko, K. Conder, V. K. Aswal, C. D. Dewhurst, R. Cubitt, N. Momono, and M. Oda, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 217003 (2002).
E. M. Forgan, S. J. Levett, P. G. Kealey, R. Cubitt, C. D. Dewhurst, and D. Fort, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 167003 (2002).
U. Divakar, A. J. Drew, S. L. Lee1, R. Gilardi, J. Mesot, F. Y. Ogrin, D. Charalambous, E. M. Forgan, G. I. Menon, N. Momono, M. Oda, C. D. Dewhurst, and C. Baines, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 237004 (2004).
H. Luetkens, J. Korecki, E. Morenzoni, T. Prokscha, M. Birke, H. Glückler, R. Khasanov, H.-H. Klauss, T. Ślezak, A. Suter, E. M. Forgan, Ch. Niedermayer, and F. J. Litterst, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 017204 (2003).
A. Suter, E. Morenzoni, R. Khasanov, H. Luetkens, T. Prokscha, and N. Garifianov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 087001 (2004).
S. H. Brongersma, E. Verweij, N. J. Koeman, D. G. de Groot, R. Griessen, and B. I. Ivlev, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2319 (1993).
J. Guimpel, L. Civale, F. de la Cruz, J. M. Murduck, and I. K. Schuller, Phys. Rev. B 38, 2342 (1988).
G. P. Felcher, R. T. Kampwirth, K. E. Gray, and R. Felici, Phys. Rev. Lett. 52, 1539 (1984).
M. P. Nutley, A. T. Boothroyd, C. R. Staddon, D. M. Paul, and J. Penfold, Phys. Rev. B 49, 15789 (1994).
H. Zhang, J. W. Lynn, C. F. Majkrzak, S. K. Satija, J. H. Kang, and X. D. Wu, Phys. Rev. B 52, 10395 (1995).
S. W. Han, J. F. Ankner, H. Kaiser, P. F. Miceli, E. Paraoanu, and L. H. Greene, Phys. Rev. B 59, 14692 (1999).
S. J. Blundell and J. A. C. Bland, Phys. Rev. B 46, 3391 (1992).
H. Frahm, S. Ullah, and A. T. Dorsey, Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 3067 (1991).
F. Liu, M. Mondello, and N. Goldenfeld, Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 3071 (1991).
R. Kato, Y. Enomoto, and S. Maekawa, Phys. Rev. B 47, 8016 (1993).
M. Machida and H. Kaburaki, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 3206 (1993).
C. S. L. Chun, G.-G. Zheng, J. L. Vicent, and I. K. Schuller, Phys. Rev. B 29, 4915 (1984).