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Laser Modulation of Superconductivity in a Cryogenic Wide-field Nitrogen-Vacancy Microscope.
Scott E Lillie1,2, David A Broadway1,2, Nikolai Dontschuk1,2
1Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Nano Letters
|February 5, 2020
Summary
A new cryogenic wide-field nitrogen-vacancy microscope images superconducting vortices and currents. It reveals how laser power affects superconductivity and shows current paths correlating with temperature gradients.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Sensing
Background:
- Superconducting materials exhibit complex behaviors like vortices and current flow.
- Understanding these phenomena requires high-resolution imaging techniques.
- Temperature inhomogeneities can significantly impact superconducting properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize a cryogenic wide-field nitrogen-vacancy (NV) microscope for imaging superconductivity.
- To investigate the influence of laser power on Abrikosov vortices in a superconducting Niobium (Nb) film.
- To explore the relationship between temperature gradients and transport currents in superconductors.
Main Methods:
- Development of a cryogenic wide-field nitrogen-vacancy microscope operating down to 4 K.
- Imaging of Abrikosov vortices and transport currents in a superconducting Nb film.
- Resistance measurements to quantify temperature gradients across the film.
Main Results:
- Observed disappearance of vortices with increased laser power, indicating local superconductivity quenching.
- Vortex clustering around hot spots upon decreased laser power.
- Demonstrated correlation between current path and temperature profile, even in the superconducting phase.
- Confirmed significant temperature gradients induced by laser illumination.
Conclusions:
- Laser illumination locally quenches superconductivity in Nb films, affecting vortex behavior.
- Temperature inhomogeneities play a crucial role in superconducting phenomena.
- The developed NV microscope offers submicrometer spatial resolution at cryogenic temperatures for mesoscopic investigations.
- This technique provides a new platform for studying diverse materials like topological insulators and van der Waals ferromagnets.
