Flux pinning properties of superconductors with an array of blind holes

We performed ac-susceptibility measurements to explore the vortex dynamics and the flux pinning properties of superconducting Pb films with an array of micro-holes (antidots) and non-fully perforated holes (blind holes). A lower ac-shielding together with a smaller extension of the linear regime for the lattice of blind holes indicates that these centers provide a weaker pinning potential than antidots. Moreover, we found that the maximum number of flux quanta trapped by a pinning site, i.e. the saturation number ns, is lower for the blind hole array.Comment: 6 figures, 6 page

Novel pinning phenomena in a superconducting film with a square lattice of artificial pinning centers

We study the transport properties of a superconducting Nb film with a square lattice of artificial pinning centers (APCs) as a function of dc current, at a temperature close to the superconducting transition temperature of the film. We find that, at low dc currents, the differential resistance of the film shows the standard matching field anomaly, that is, the differential resistance has a local minimum at magnetic fields corresponding to an integer number of flux lines per APC. However, at higher dc currents, the differential resistance at each matching field turns to a local maximum, which is exactly opposite to the low current behavior. This novel effect might indicate that the flux lines in the APC system change their flow mode as the dc current is increased.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Superconducting films with antidot arrays - novel behavior of the critical current

Novel behavior of the critical current density $j_{c}$ of a regularly perforated superconducting film is found, as a function of applied magnetic field $H$. Previously pronounced peaks of $j_{c}$ at matching fields were always found to decrease with increasing $H$. Here we found a {\it reversal of this behavior} for particular geometrical parameters of the antidot lattice and/or temperature. This new phenomenon is due to a strong ``caging'' of interstitial vortices between the pinned ones. We show that this vortex-vortex interaction can be further tailored by an appropriate choice of the superconducting material, described by the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $\kappa$. In effective type-I samples we predict that the peaks in $j_{c}(H)$ at the matching fields are transformed into a {\it step-like behavior}.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Remarks on E11 approach

We consider a few topics in $E_{11}$ approach to superstring/M-theory: even subgroups ($Z_2$ orbifolds) of $E_{n}$, n=11,10,9 and their connection to Kac-Moody algebras; $EE_{11}$ subgroup of $E_{11}$ and coincidence of one of its weights with the $l_1$ weight of $E_{11}$, known to contain brane charges; possible form of supersymmetry relation in $E_{11}$; decomposition of $l_1$ w.r.t. the $SO(10,10)$ and its square root at first few levels; particle orbit of $l_1 \ltimes E_{11}$. Possible relevance of coadjoint orbits method is noticed, based on a self-duality form of equations of motion in $E_{11}$.Comment: Two references adde

Suppression of dissipation in Nb thin films with triangular antidot arrays by random removal of pinning sites

The depinning current Ic versus applied magnetic field B close to the transition temperature Tc of Nb thin films with randomly diluted triangular arrays of antidots is investigated. % Our experiments confirm essential features in Ic(B) as predicted by Reichhardt and Olson Reichhardt [Phys.Rev. B 76, 094512 (2007)]. % We show that, by introducing disorder into periodic pinning arrays, Ic can be enhanced. % In particular, for arrays with fixed density n_p of antidots, an increase in dilution Pd induces an increase in Ic and decrease of the flux-flow voltage for B>Bp=n_p Phi_0.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Direct visualization of magnetic vortex pinning in superconductors

We study the vortex structure in a Pb film deposited on top of a periodic array of ferromagnetic square microrings by combining two high resolution imaging techniques: Bitter decoration and scanning Hall probe microscopy (SHPM). The periodicity and strength of the magnetic pinning potential generated by the square microrings are controlled by the magnetic history of the template. When the square rings are in the magnetized dipolar state, known as the onion state, the strong stray field generated at the domain walls prevents the decoration of vortices. SHPM images show that the stray field generated by the dipoles is much stronger than the vortex field in agreement with the results of simulations. Real space vortex imaging has revealed that, in the onion state, the corners of the square rings act as effective pinning centers for vortices.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

Mechanism for flux guidance by micrometric antidot arrays in superconducting films

A study of magnetic flux penetration in a superconducting film patterned with arrays of micron sized antidots (microholes) is reported. Magneto-optical imaging (MOI) of a YBCO film shaped as a long strip with perpendicular antidot arrays revealed both strong guidance of flux, and at the same time large perturbations of the overall flux penetration and flow of current. These results are compared with a numerical flux creep simulation of a thin superconductor with the same antidot pattern. To perform calculations on such a complex geometry, an efficient numerical scheme for handling the boundary conditions of the antidots and the nonlocal electrodynamics was developed. The simulations reproduce essentially all features of the MOI results. In addition, the numerical results give insight into all other key quantities, e.g., the electrical field, which becomes extremely large in the narrow channels connecting the antidots.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Superconducting properties of Nb thin films deposited on porous silicon templates

Porous silicon, obtained by electrochemical etching, has been used as a substrate for the growth of nanoperforated Nb thin films. The films, deposited by UHV magnetron sputtering on the porous Si substrates, inherited their structure made of holes of 5 or 10 nm diameter and of 10 to 40 nm spacing, which provide an artificial pinning structure. The superconducting properties were investigated by transport measurements performed in the presence of magnetic field for different film thickness and substrates with different interpore spacing. Perpendicular upper critical fields measurements present peculiar features such as a change in the H_c2(T) curvature and oscillations in the field dependence of the superconducting resistive transition width at H=1 Tesla. This field value is much higher than typical matching fields in perforated superconductors, as a consequence of the small interpore distance.Comment: accepted for publication on Journal of Applied Physic

Optical transition radiation in fused quartz under external acoustic field

In the present paper we have investigated the optical transition radiation in a plate excited by a longitudinal acoustic wave. The spectral-angular density of the radiated energy is calculated. The numerical examples are given for a plate of fused quartz. These results show that the acoustic waves allow to control the parameters of the radiation. In particular, new resonance peaks appear in the spectral distribution of the radiation intensity. The height of the peaks can be tuned by choosing the parameters of the acoustic wave

Casimir eigenvalues for universal Lie algebra

For two different natural definitions of Casimir operators for simple Lie algebras we show that their eigenvalues in the adjoint representation can be expressed polynomially in the universal Vogel's parameters $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$ and give explicit formulae for the generating functions of these eigenvalues.Comment: Slightly revised versio