Scanning Hall probe microscopy has been used to study vortex structures in very-high-quality single crystals of the unconventional superconductor Sr 2 RuO 4 (T c ∼ = 1.5 K). In none of our samples do we find credible evidence for the existence of the spontaneous fields or chiral domains predicted for the expected time-reversal symmetry-breaking order parameter. Even in our highest-quality samples we observe very strong vortex pinning and anomalous broadening of vortex profiles. The best samples also exhibit a clear field-driven triangular to square vortex lattice transition at low fields, as predicted by extended London theory calculations. In stark contrast, slightly less well-ordered samples exhibit pronounced vortex chaining/banding that we tentatively attribute to an extrinsic source of disorder.

The effect of hydrostatic pressure up to P = 1.7 GPa on the fluctuation conductivity σ′(T) and pseudogap ∆*(T) in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7−δ single crystal with critical temperature Тс = 85.2 K (at P = 0) was investigated. The application of pressure leads to the increase in Tc with dTc/dP = +1.82 K∙GPa−1 while the resistance decreases as dlnρ(100 K)/dP = −(10.5 ± 0.2) %∙GPa−1. Regardless of the pressure, in the temperature interval from Tc to T0 (~88 K at P = 0) the behaviour of σ′(T) is well described by the Aslamazov – Larkin (AL – 3D) fluctuation theory, and above the T0 by the Lawrence – Doniach theory (LD). The Maki-Thompson (MT – 2D) fluctuation contribution is not observed. This indicates the presence of structural defects in the sample induced by Pr. Here it is determined for the first time that when the pressure is applied to the Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystal, the pseudogap increases as dlnΔ*/dP = 0.17 GPa–1.

We present the design, construction, and performance of a low-temperature scanning Hall probe microscope with submicron lateral resolution and a large scanning range. The detachable microscope head is mounted on the cold flange of a commercial (3)He-refrigerator (Oxford Instruments, Heliox VT-50) and operates between room temperature and 300 mK. It is fitted with a three-axis slip-stick nanopositioner that enables precise in situ adjustment of the probe location within a 6x6x7 mm(3) space. The local magnetic induction at the sample surface is mapped with an easily changeable microfabricated Hall probe [typically GsAs/AlGaAs or AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs Hall sensors with integrated scanning tunnel microscopy (STM) tunneling tips] and can achieve minimum detectable fields >or=10 mG/Hz(1/2). The Hall probe is brought into very close proximity to the sample surface by sensing and controlling tunnel currents at the integrated STM tip. The instrument is capable of simultaneous tunneling and Hall signal acquisition in surface-tracking mode. We illustrate the potential of the system with images of superconducting vortices at the surface of a Nb thin film down to 372 mK, and also of labyrinth magnetic-domain patterns of an yttrium iron garnet film captured at room temperature.

The real space imaging of vortices in unconventional superconductors not only provides important information about the effectiveness of flux pinning that can inform high current applications, but also yields crucial insights into the form of the superconducting order parameter. For example, the structure of the vortex lattice reflects effective mass and order parameter anisotropies within the material, and profiles of isolated vortices provide a local measure of the magnetic penetration depth that can be used to infer the superfluid density. We describe here the analysis of recent studies whereby state-of-the-art scanning Hall probe microscopy (SHPM) has been used to perform vortex-resolved magnetic imaging on two distinct families of unconventional superconductors. Two sets of results will be analysed in detail; (i) vortex lattice structural transitions in the p-wave superconductor Sr 2 RuO 4 that reflect underlying anisotropies in the system and (ii) a quantitative analysis of vortex profiles in Co-doped 122 pnictide superconductors (SrFe 2-x Co x As 2 & BaFe 2-x Co x As 2) that allows one to infer the temperaturedependent superfluid density. The latter has then been compared with predictions for different order parameter models for a multiband superconductor.

The design and performance of a novel scanning Hall probe microscope for milliKelvin magnetic imaging with submicron lateral resolution is presented. The microscope head is housed in the vacuum chamber of a commercial 3 He-refrigerator and operates between room temperature and 300 mK in magnetic fields up to 10 T. Mapping of the local magnetic induction at the sample surface is performed by a micro-fabricated 2DEG Hall probe equipped with an integrated STM tip. The latter provides a reliable mechanism of surface tracking by sensing and controlling the tunnel currents. We discuss the results of tests of the system and illustrate its potential with images of suitable reference samples captured in different modes of operation.