Observation of vortex coalescence in the anisotropic spin-triplet superconductor Sr${}_2$RuO${}_4$

Abstract

We present direct imaging of magnetic flux structures in the anisotropic, spin-triplet superconductor Sr${}_2$RuO${}_4$ using a scanning $\mu$SQUID microscope. Individual quantized vortices were seen at low magnetic fields. Coalescing vortices forming flux domains were revealed at intermediate fields. Based on our observations we suggest that a mechanism intrinsic to the material stabilizes the flux domains against the repulsive vortex-vortex interaction. Topological defects like domain walls can provide this, implying proof for unconventional chiral superconductivity.

submitted to PRL

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• Upper limit on spontaneous supercurrents in Sr${}_2$RuO${}_4$
• Limits on Superconductivity-Related Magnetization in Sr${}_2$RuO${}_4$ and PrOs${}_4$Sb${}_{12}$ from Scanning SQUID Microscopy
• Fundamental studies of superconductors using scanning magnetic imaging
• Imaging superconducting vortex core and lattice with the scanning tunneling microscope
• Stability of half-quantum vorticies in p_x+ip_y superconductors
• Muon-spin rotation measurements of the vortex state in Sr${}_2$RuO${}_4$: type-1.5 superconductivity, vortex clustering and a crossover from a triangular to a square vortex lattice
• Unconventional quantum oscillations in mesoscopic rings of spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4
• Vortical versus skyrmionic states in mesoscopic \emph{p}-wave superconductors
• Vortex coalescence and type-1.5 superconductivity in Sr2RuO4
• Hierarchical structure formation in layered superconducting systems with multi-scale inter-vortex interactions
• Skyrmions induced by dissipationless drag in U(1)xU(1) superconductors
• Sr_2 Ru O_4 : Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry in the Superconducting state
• Lattices of double-quanta vortices and chirality inversion in $p_x+i{p}_y$ superconductors
• Anomalous Temperature Dependence of Lower Critical Field in Ultraclean URu${}_2$Si${}_2$
• Magnetic fields above the surface of a superconductor with internal magnetism
• Observation of two species of vortices in the anisotropic spin-triplet superconductor $S{r}_{2}Ru{O}_4$
• Structural Transitions in Vortex Systems with Anisotropic Interactions
• Penetration of nonquantized magnetic flux through a domain-wall bend in time-reversal symmetry broken superconductors
• Observation of Vortex Coalescence, Vortex Chains and Crossing Vortices in the Anisotropic Spin-Triplet Superconductor $S{r}_{2}Ru{O}_4$
• Field dependence of the vortex-core sizes in dirty two-band superconductors
• Magnetic Field Distribution Due to Domain Walls in Unconventional Superconductors