Vortex manipulation in a superconducting matrix with view on applications

We show how a single flux quantum can be effectively manipulated in a superconducting film with a matrix of blind holes. Such a sample can serve as a basic memory element, where the position of the vortex in a [k x l] matrix of pinning sites defines the desired combination of n bits of information (2^n=k*l). Vortex placement is achieved by strategically applied current and the resulting position is read-out via generated voltage between metallic contacts on the sample. Such a device can also act as a controllable source of a nanoengineered local magnetic field for e.g. spintronics applications

Two Particle Azimuthal Correlations in 4.2A GeV C+Ta Collisions

Two particle azimuthal correlations are studied in 4.2A GeV C+Ta collisions observed with the 2-m propane bubble chamber exposed at JINR Dubna Synchrophasotron. The correlations are analyzed both for protons and negative pions, and their dependence on the collision centrality, rapidity and rapidity difference is investigated. It is found that protons show a weak back-to-back correlations, while a side-by-side correlations are observed for negative pions. Restricting both protons to the target or projectile fragmentation region, the side-by-side correlations are observed for protons also. Using the two particle correlation function, the flow analysis is performed and intensity of directed flow is determined without event-by event estimation of the reaction plane.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Mesoscopic field and current compensator based on a hybrid superconductor-ferromagnet structure

A rather general enhancement of superconductivity is demonstrated in a hybrid structure consisting of submicron superconducting (SC) sample combined with an in-plane ferromagnet (FM). The superconducting state resists much higher applied magnetic fields for both perpendicular polarities, as applied field is screened by the FM. In addition, FM induces (in the perpendicular direction to its moment) two opposite current-flows in the SC plane, under and aside the magnet, respectively. Due to the compensation effects, superconductivity persists up to higher applied currents. With increasing current, the sample undergoes SC-"resistive"-normal state transitions through a mixture of vortex-antivortex and phase-slip phenomena.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Fermi level quantum numbers and secondary gap of conducting carbon nanotubes

For the single-wall carbon nanotubes conducting in the simplest tight binding model, the complete set of line group symmetry based quantum numbers for the bands crossing at Fermi level are given. Besides linear (k), helical (k'} and angular momenta, emerging from roto-translational symmetries, the parities of U axis and (in the zig-zag and armchair cases only) mirror planes appear in the assignation. The helical and angular momentum quantum numbers of the crossing bands never vanishes, what supports proposed chirality of currents. Except for the armchair tubes, the crossing bands have the same quantum numbers and, according to the non-crossing rule, a secondary gap arises, as it is shown by the accurate tight-binding calculation. In the armchair case the different vertical mirror parity of the crossing bands provides substantial conductivity, though kF is slightly decreased.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Carbon Nanotubes Band Assignation, Topology, Bloch States and Selection Rules

Various properties of the energy band structures (electronic, phonon, etc.), including systematic band degeneracy, sticking and extremes, following from the full line group symmetry of the single-wall carbon nanotubes are established. The complete set of quantum numbers consists of quasi momenta (angular and linear or helical) and parities with respect to the z-reversal symmetries and, for achiral tubes, the vertical plane. The assignation of the electronic bands is performed, and the generalized Bloch symmetry adapted eigen functions are derived. The most important physical tensors are characterized by the same set of quantum numbers. All this enables application of the presented exhaustive selection rules. The results are discussed by some examples, e.g. allowed interband transitions, conductivity, Raman tensor, etc.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables; pdf available from: http://www.ff.bg.ac.yu/qmf/qsg_e.ht

Fluctuations in superconducting rings with two order parameters

Starting from the Ginzburg-Landau energy functional, we discuss how the presence of two order parameters and the coupling between them influence a superconducting ring in the fluctuative regime. Our method is exact, but requires numerical implementation. We also study approximations for which some analytic expressions can be obtained, and check their ranges of validity. We provide estimates for the temperature ranges where fluctuations are important, calculate the persistent current in magnesium diboride rings as a function of temperature and enclosed flux, and point out its additional dependence on the cross-section area of the ring. We find temperature regions in which fluctuations enhance the persistent currents and regions where they inhibit the persistent current. The presence of two order parameters that can fluctuate independently always leads to larger averages of the order parameters at Tc, but only for appropriate parameters this yields larger persistent current. In cases of very different material parameters for the two coupled condensates, the persistent current is inhibited

Competing symmetries and broken bonds in superconducting vortex-antivortex molecular crystals

Hall probe microscopy has been used to image vortex-antivortex molecules induced in superconducting Pb films by the stray fields from square arrays of magnetic dots. We have directly observed spontaneous vortex-antivortex pairs and studied how they interact with added free (anti)fluxons in an applied magnetic field. We observe a variety of phenomena arising from competing symmetries which either drive added antivortices to join antivortex shells around dots or stabilize the translationally symmetric antivortex lattice between the dots. Added vortices annihilate antivortex shells, leading first to a stable “nulling state” with no free fluxons and then, at high densities, to vortex shells around the dots stabilized by the asymmetric antipinning potential. Our experimental findings are in good agreement with Ginzburg-Landau calculations

Transverse instabilities of multiple vortex chains in superconductor-ferromagnet bilayers

Using scanning tunneling microscopy and Ginzburg-Landau simulations we explore vortex configurations in magnetically coupled NbSe$_2$-Permalloy superconductor-ferromagnet bilayer. The Permalloy film with stripe domain structure induces periodic local magnetic induction in the superconductor creating a series of pinning-antipinning channels for externally added magnetic flux quanta. Such laterally confined Abrikosov vortices form quasi-1D arrays (chains). The transitions between multichain states occur through propagation of kinks at the intermediate fields. At high fields we show that the system becomes non-linear due to a change in both the number of vortices and the confining potential. The longitudinal instabilities of the resulting vortex structures lead to vortices `levitating' in the anti-pinning channels.Comment: accepted in PRB-Rapid

Magnetic Pinning of Vortices in a Superconducting Film: The (anti)vortex-magnetic dipole interaction energy in the London approximation

The interaction between a superconducting vortex or antivortex in a superconducting film and a magnetic dipole with in- or out-of-plane magnetization is investigated within the London approximation. The dependence of the interaction energy on the dipole-vortex distance and the film thickness is studied and analytical results are obtained in limiting cases. We show how the short range interaction with the magnetic dipole makes the co-existence of vortices and antivortices possible. Different configurations with vortices and antivortices are investigated.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

HELICALLY COILED CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract: Helically coiled carbon nanotubes are frequently synthesized, with well elaborated techniques of growth. This paper is a study of stability and conductivity of these configurations within simple theoretical model followed by the numerical approach