Nucleation and arrangement of Abrikosov vortices in hybrid superconductor–ferromagnet nanostructures

Abstract

This study investigates the nucleation, dynamics, and stationary configurations of Abrikosov vortices in hybrid superconductor–ferromagnet nanostructures subjected to inhomogeneous magnetic fields generated by a ferromagnetic nanodot. Employing the simulations based on time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau coupled with Maxwell's equations, we reveal the evolution of curved vortex structures that exhibit creep-like deformation before stabilizing. The interplay between vortices and currents confined within the superconducting nanoelement gives rise to unconventional stationary vortex arrangements, which evolve gradually with increasing magnetic field strength—a behavior absent in homogeneous fields. Our numerical results illustrate how the ferromagnetic element can control vortex configurations via a stray magnetic field—insights that are difficult to access experimentally or analytically. We demonstrate that the superconducting nanoelement can stabilize into distinct vortex states in response to even small system perturbations. This highlights the extreme sensitivity of the system and the richness of its dynamic behaviour, revealing complex pinning mechanisms and providing valuable insights into the optimisation of nanoscale superconducting systems.

Graphical abstract: Nucleation and arrangement of Abrikosov vortices in hybrid superconductor–ferromagnet nanostructures

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
29 Nov 2024
Accepted
02 May 2025
First published
21 May 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale Horiz., 2025, Advance Article

Nucleation and arrangement of Abrikosov vortices in hybrid superconductor–ferromagnet nanostructures

S. Memarzadeh, M. Gołębiewski, M. Krawczyk and J. W. Kłos, Nanoscale Horiz., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4NH00618F

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