Anisotropic vortex pinning in superconductors with a square array of rectangular submicron holes

Abstract

We investigate vortex pinning in thin superconducting films with a square array of rectangular submicron holes (``antidots''). Two types of antidots are considered: antidots fully perforating the superconducting film and ``blind antidots,'' holes that perforate the film only up to a certain depth. In both systems, we observe a distinct anisotropy in the pinning properties, reflected in the critical current ${I}_{c},$ depending on the direction of the applied electrical current: parallel to the long side of the antidots or perpendicular to it. Although the mechanism responsible for the effect is very different in the two systems, they both show a higher critical current and a sharper $I\ensuremath{-}V$ transition when the current is applied along the long side of the rectangular antidots.