Vortex arrays in the BSCCO (2212) single crystals in the vicinity of steps on the sample surface

Vortex distributions near surface steps observed by scanning SQUID microscopy

“…As noted previously, these distributions are qualitatively similar to those obtained in other vortex imaging studies around naturally occurring surface steps in various superconductors using several different techniques. 8,[11][12][13] As a result, we do not believe that the vortex distributions we observe are related to possible damage due to the ion-milling process. This was tested directly by fabricating an a-MoGe square sample in which the entire surface of the square was partially ion milled prior to patterning the trenches.…”

“…6,7 More recently, direct magnetic imaging investigations of vortices in superconductors with surface steps have shown the influence of steps on the vortex distributions and dynamics. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Various magnetic imaging techniques are available for studying these distributions, including Bitter decoration, 15 Lorentz microscopy, 11 scanning Hall-probe microscopy, 16 magnetic force microscopy, 17 and magneto-optical imaging. 18 For low magnetic fields, scanning superconducting quantum interference device ͑SQUID͒ microscopy ͑SSM͒ provides the best resolution of individual vortices.…”

The morphology, periodical modulation structure and effects of heat treatment on the superconductivity of (Tl, Pb)(Sr, Ba)-1223 single crystals

“…It is well established that the flux pinning strongly depends on the microstructure of the superconducting single crystals, especially on crystalline defects such as dislocations that are on the scale of flux pinning centres. Single crystals grown by a two-dimensional nucleation mechanism and by the screw dislocation growth mechanism will thus show different flux pinning properties, because the growth steps on the surface will contribute to the pinning originating from the surface [9,10]. This means that single crystals with the same composition grown from different flux in which the crystals obey different growth mechanisms will show different flux pinning properties [11].…”

Enhancement of critical current density in a superconducting NbSe2 step junction

“…10,11,13 A potential alternative to this approach may be the use of the geometrical-type pinning by introducing surface steps. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Micro-methods, such as Bitter decoration, 14,15 magnetic force microscopy, 20 scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscopy 16 and scanning tunneling microscopy 21 have been employed to explore the spatial distribution of vortices in the vicinity of surface steps and proved that the surface steps indeed pinned the vortices and impeded their motion.…”