Trapping Flux Avalanches in Nb Films by Circular Stop-Holes of Different Size

Author

Carmo, D. ; Colauto, F. ; de Andrade, A.M.H. ; Oliveira, A.A.M. ; Ortiz, W.A. ; Johansen, T.H.

Author_Institution

Dept. de Fis., Univ. Fed. de Sao Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil

Volume

25

Issue

3

fYear

2015

fDate

Jun-15

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

Dendritic flux avalanches triggered by thermomagnetic instabilities in Nb superconducting films have been limited by inclusion of circular holes of different diameters produced by optical lithography. We have observed a compromise between dendrite and hole sizes, for which avalanches are effectively arrested. For holes much smaller than the dendrites, only individual branches are stopped. Large holes are not a good solution, since they change the film geometry. A noteworthy trapping is observed at the holes with diameter between the width of an individual branch and the size of a whole dendrite. The present work shows the trend to optimize stop-holes for limiting thermomagnetic avalanches in superconducting films.

Keywords

dendrites; flux pinning; niobium; photolithography; superconducting thin films; thermomagnetic effects; Nb; Nb superconducting films; circular stop-holes; dendritic flux avalanches; hole sizes; optical lithography; thermomagnetic avalanches; thermomagnetic instabilities; trapping flux avalanches; Art; Charge carrier processes; Films; Magnetic flux; Niobium; Superconducting thin films; Avalanche; Film, Niobium; Niobium; Stop-Hole; Thermomagnetic Instability; film; niobium; stop-hole; thermomagnetic instability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TASC.2014.2364733

Filename

6936293