Topologically protected superconducting ratchet effect generated by spin-ice nanomagnets

We have designed, fabricated and tested a robust superconducting ratchet device based on topologically frustrated spin ice nanomagnets. The device is made of a magnetic Co honeycomb array embedded in a superconducting Nb film. This device is based on three simple mechanisms: (i) the topology of the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rollano, V., Muñoz Noval, Álvaro, Gómez, A., Valdés Bango, F., Martín, J.I., Vélez, M., Osorio, M. R., Granados, D., González Herrera, Elvira María, Vicent López, José Luis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/13328
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/13328
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:538.9
Motion
Memory
State
Física de materiales
Física del estado sólido
2211 Física del Estado Sólido
Descripción
Sumario:We have designed, fabricated and tested a robust superconducting ratchet device based on topologically frustrated spin ice nanomagnets. The device is made of a magnetic Co honeycomb array embedded in a superconducting Nb film. This device is based on three simple mechanisms: (i) the topology of the Co honeycomb array frustrates in-plane magnetic configurations in the array yielding a distribution of magnetic charges which can be ordered or disordered with in-plane magnetic fields, following spin ice rules; (ii) the local vertex magnetization, which consists of a magnetic half vortex with two charged magnetic Neel walls; (iii) the interaction between superconducting vortices and the asymmetric potentials provided by the Neel walls. The combination of these elements leads to a superconducting ratchet effect. Thus, superconducting vortices driven by alternating forces and moving on magnetic half vortices generate a unidirectional net vortex flow. This ratchet effect is independent of the distribution of magnetic charges in the array.