Magnetic field-induced weak-to-strong-link transformation in patterned superconducting films

Ubiquitous in most superconducting materials and a common result of nanofabrication processes, weak-links are known for their limiting effects on the transport of electric currents. Still, they are at the root of key features of superconducting technology. By performing quantitative magneto-optical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2023-10
Main Authors: Chaves, D A D, Valerio-Cuadros, M I, Jiang, L, Abbey, E A, Colauto, F, Oliveira, A A M, Andrade, A M H, L B L G Pinheiro, Johansen, T H, Xue, C, Y -H Zhou, Silhanek, A V, Ortiz, W A, Motta, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Critical current (superconductivity)
Crossovers
Magnetic fields
Superconducting films
Superconductivity
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Ubiquitous in most superconducting materials and a common result of nanofabrication processes, weak-links are known for their limiting effects on the transport of electric currents. Still, they are at the root of key features of superconducting technology. By performing quantitative magneto-optical imaging experiments and thermomagnetic model simulations, we correlate the existence of local maxima in the magnetization loops of FIB-patterned Nb films to a magnetic field-induced weak-to-strong-link transformation increasing their critical current. This phenomenon arises from the nanoscale interaction between quantized magnetic flux lines and FIB-induced modifications of the device microstructure. Under an ac drive field, this leads to a rectified vortex motion along the weak-link. The reported tunable effect can be exploited in the development of new superconducting electronic devices, such as flux pumps and valves, to attenuate or amplify the supercurrent through a circuit element, and as a strategy to enhance the critical current in weak-link-bearing devices.
ISSN:2331-8422