Guiding superconducting vortices with magnetic domain walls

Abstract

We demonstrate a unique prospect for inducing anisotropic vortex pinning and manipulating the directional motion of vortices by using the stripe domain patterns of a uniaxial magnetic film in the superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrid. Our observations can be described by a model, which considers interactions between magnetic charges of vortices and surface magnetic charges of domains resulting in the enhanced pinning of vortices on domain walls.