title: Observation of vortex coalescence in the anisotropic spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4.
abstract: We present direct imaging of magnetic flux structures over the ab face of the anisotropic, spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4 using a scanning microSQUID force microscope. Individual vortices with a single flux quantum were observed at low magnetic fields applied along the out-of-pane direction. At intermediate fields, the direct imaging revealed coalescing of vortices and the formation of flux domains. Our observations imply the existence of a mechanism in this material for bringing vortices together overcoming the conventional repulsive vortex-vortex interaction.
authors.affiliation: CRTBT-CNRS, 25 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: V O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Dolocan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veauvy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Servant
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lejay
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasselbach
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mailly