Depairing Current at High Magnetic Fields in Vortex-Free High-Temperature Superconducting Nanowires

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Superconductors are vital for technologies like medical imaging and fusion energy.
• High-temperature superconductors (HTS) face performance limitations due to vortex movement at high magnetic fields and temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate methods for enhancing critical-current density in HTS under challenging conditions.
• To overcome limitations imposed by quantized vortex motion in HTS applications.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling and experimental validation of nanowire-patterned HTS films.
• Tailoring the geometry of HTS films, specifically reducing width (W), to control vortex entry.

Main Results:

• Extended the Meissner state range up to ~1 T by reducing HTS nanowire width.
• Achieved unprecedented high critical-current densities, approaching depairing limits, at high fields and temperatures.
• Demonstrated sustained high current densities across a wide temperature range.

Conclusions:

• Preventing vortex entry via geometric engineering is a viable strategy to boost HTS performance.
• The findings enable the development of new HTS conductors for high-field, high-temperature applications.
• Reduced flux noise in sensors and quantum systems is a potential benefit.