Hybridization and interference effects for localized superconducting states in strong magnetic field

Within the Ginzburg-Landau model we study the critical field and temperature enhancement for crossing superconducting channels formed either along the sample edges or domain walls in thin-film magnetically coupled superconducting - ferromagnetic bilayers. The corresponding Cooper pair wave function can be viewed as a hybridization of two order parameter (OP) modes propagating along the boundaries and/or domain walls. Different momenta of hybridized OP modes result in the formation of vortex chains outgoing from the crossing point of these channels. Near this crossing point the wave functions of the modes merge giving rise to the increase in the critical temperature for a localized superconducting state. The origin of this critical temperature enhancement caused by the wave function squeezing is illustrated for a limiting case of approaching parallel boundaries and/or domain walls. Using both the variational method and numerical simulations we have studied the critical temperature dependence and OP structure vs the applied magnetic field and the angle between the crossing channels.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

Localization of superconductivity in superconductor-electromagnet hybrids

We investigate the nucleation of superconductivity in a superconducting Al strip under the influence of the magnetic field generated by a current-carrying Nb wire, perpendicularly oriented and located underneath the strip. The inhomogeneous magnetic field, induced by the Nb wire, produces a spatial modulation of the critical temperature T_c, leading to a controllable localization of the superconducting order parameter (OP) wave function. We demonstrate that close to the phase boundary T_c(B_ext) the localized OP solution can be displaced reversibly by either applying an external perpendicular magnetic field B_ext or by changing the amplitude of the inhomogeneous field.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Mesoscopic cross-film cryotrons: Vortex trapping and dc-Josephson-like oscillations of the critical current

We investigate theoretically and experimentally the transport properties of a plain Al superconducting strip in the presence of a single straight current-carrying wire, oriented perpendicular to the superconducting strip. It is well known that the critical current of the superconducting strip, Ic, in such cryotron--like system can be tuned by changing the current in the control wire, Iw. We demonstrated that the discrete change in the number of the pinned vortices/antivortices inside the narrow and long strip nearby the current-carrying wire results in a peculiar oscillatory dependence of Ic on Iw.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Why the paper CERN-PH-EP-2009-015 (arXiv:0903.4762) is scientifically unacceptable

The paper CERN-PH-EP-2009-015 (arXiv:0903.4762) by A. Bagulya et al. violates standards of quality of work and scientific ethics on several counts. The paper contains assertions that contradict established detector physics. The paper falls short of proving the correctness of the authors' concepts and results. The paper ignores or quotes misleadingly pertinent published work. The paper ignores the fact that the authors' concepts and results have already been shown wrong in the published literature. The authors seem unaware that cross-section results from the 'HARP Collaboration' that are based on the paper's concepts and algorithms are in gross disagreement with the results of a second analysis of the same data, and with the results of other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Measurement of air fluorescence light yield induced by an electromagnetic shower

For most of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) experiments and projects (HiRes, AUGER, TA, JEM-EUSO, TUS,...), the detection technique of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) is based, at least, on the measurement of the air fluorescence induced signal. The knowledge of the Fluorescence Light Yield (FLY) is of paramount importance for the UHECR energy reconstruction. The MACFLY experiment was designed to perform such FLY measurements. In this paper we will present the results of dry air FLY induced by 50 GeV electromagnetic showers as a function of shower age and as a function of the pressure. The experiment was performed at CERN using an SPS electron test beam line. It is shown that the FLY is proportional to deposited energy in air (E_d) and that the ratio FLY/E_d and its pressure dependence remain constant independently of shower age and more generally independently of the excitation source used (single electron track or air shower).For most of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) experiments and projects (HiRes, AUGER, TA, JEM-EUSO, TUS,...), the detection technique of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) is based, at least, on the measurement of the air fluorescence induced signal. The knowledge of the Fluorescence Light Yield (FLY) is of paramount importance for the UHECR energy reconstruction. The MACFLY experiment was designed to perform such FLY measurements. In this paper we will present the results of dry air FLY induced by 50 GeV electromagnetic showers as a function of shower age and as a function of the pressure. The experiment was performed at CERN using an SPS electron test beam line. It is shown that the FLY is proportional to deposited energy in air (E_d) and that the ratio FLY/E_d and its pressure dependence remain constant independently of shower age and more generally independently of the excitation source used (single electron track or air shower)

Comparison of Geant4 hadron generation with data from the interactions with beryllium nuclei of +8.9 GeV/c protons and pions, and of -8 GeV/c pions

Hadron generation in the Geant4 simulation tool kit is compared with inclusive spectra of secondary protons and pions from the interactions with beryllium nuclei of +8.9 GeV/c protons and pions, and of -8.0 GeV/c pions. The data were taken in 2002 at the CERN Proton Synchrotron with the HARP spectrometer. We report on significant disagreements between data and simulated data especially in the polar-angle distributions of secondary protons and pions.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figure

Domain-wall and reverse-domain superconducting states of a Pb thin-film bridge on a ferromagnetic BaFe_{12}O_{19} single crystal

We report on imaging of the nonuniform superconducting states in a Pb thin film bridge on top of a ferromagnetic BaFe_{12}O_{19} single crystal with a single straight domain wall along the center of the bridge by low-temperature scanning laser microscopy. We have visualized domain wall superconductivity (DWS) close to the critical temperature of Pb, when the Pb film above the domain wall acts as a superconducting path for the current. The evolution of the DWS signal with temperature and the external-field-driven transition from DWS to reverse domain superconductivity was visualized.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Cross-Sections of Large-Angle Hadron Production in Proton- and Pion-Nucleus Interactions V: Lead Nuclei and Beam Momenta from +/-3 Gev/c to +/-15 Gev/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% nuclear interaction length thick stationary lead target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from +/-3 GeV/c to +/-15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20 to 125 degrees. Cross-sections on lead nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, copper, and tantalum nuclei.Comment: 67 pages, 13 figures, 47 table

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton-- and pion--nucleus interactions VIII: aluminium nuclei and beam momenta from {\pm}3 GeV/c to {\pm}15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% {\lambda}int thick stationary aluminium target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from \pm3 GeV/c to \pm15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles between 20 and 125 degrees. Cross-sections on aluminium nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, carbon, copper, tin, tantalum and lead nuclei.Comment: 71 pages, 16 figures, 47 table