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Publication

Controlled Generation of Quantized Vortex-Antivortex Pairs in a Superconducting Condensate

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

Quantized vortices, as topological defects, play an important role in both physics and technological applications of superconductors. Normally, the nucleation of vortices requires the presence of a high magnetic field or current density, which allow the vortices to enter from the sample boundaries. At the same time, the controllable generation of individual vortices inside a superconductor is still challenging. Here, we report the controllable creation of single quantum vortices and antivortices at any desirable position inside a superconductor. We exploit the local heating effect of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip: superconductivity is locally suppressed by the tip and vortex-antivortex pairs are generated when supercurrent flows around the hot spot. The experimental results are well-explained by theoretical simulations within the Ginzburg-Landau approach.
Journal: Nano Letters
ISSN: 1530-6984
Issue: 8
Volume: 17
Pages: 5003 - 5007
Publication year:2017
BOF-keylabel:yes
IOF-keylabel:yes
BOF-publication weight:10
CSS-citation score:1
Authors from:Higher Education