Local probing of the vortex–antivortex dynamics in superconductor/ferromagnet hybrid structures

Abstract

In-plane ferromagnetic bars, densely packed in a linear array underneath a superconducting bridge, create two types of vortex chains of opposite polarity inside the superconductor. In this work we investigate both experimentally and theoretically the dynamics of these vortex chains as a function of an external magnetic field for two different arrangements of magnetic moments, namely parallel and antiparallel. The theoretical approach, based on the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau formalism, confirms previously proposed empirical models implemented to describe the basic properties of these hybrid systems. In addition, local transport measurements allow us to probe the dynamics of individual vortex channels as a function of the applied magnetic field. These measurements evidence a drastic reduction of the dissipation in the channel populated with vortices having opposite polarity to the applied field.