Controlled switching between paramagnetic and diamagnetic Meissner effect in Pb/Co nanocomposites

Abstract

A hybrid system which consists of a superconducting (SC) Pb film (100 nm thickness) containing $\sim$1 vol% single domain ferromagnetic (FM) Co particles of mean-size $\sim$4.5 nm reveal unusual magnetic properties: (i) a controlled switching between the usual diamagnetic and the unusual paramagnetic Meissner effect in field cooling as well as in zero-field cooling experiments (ii) amplification of the positive magnetization when the sample enters the SC state below T${}_c$. These experimental findings can be explained by the formation of spontaneous vortices and the possible alignment of these vortices due to the foregoing alignment of the Co particle FM moments by an external magnetic field.

5 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Proximity effects in superconductor-ferromagnet heterostructures
• Paramagnetic Meissner effect and related dynamical phenomena
• Vortex-antivortex dynamics and field-polarity-dependent flux creep in hybrid superconductor/ferromagnet nanostructures
• Threefold onset of vortex loops in superconductors with a magnetic core

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Nucleation of superconductivity and vortex matter in superconductor - ferromagnet hybrids
• Strain induced superconductivity in the parent compound BaFe2As2
• Ultrasensitive interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity in NbGd composite thin films
• Anti-Lenz Supercurrents in Superconducting Spin Valves
• Superconducting transition in Pb/Co nanocomposites: effect of Co volume fraction and external magnetic field