title: Vortex core deformation and stepper-motor ratchet behavior in a superconducting aluminum film containing an array of holes.
abstract: We investigated experimentally the frequency dependence of a superconducting vortex ratchet effect by means of electrical transport measurements and modeled it theoretically using the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau formalism. We demonstrate that the high frequency vortex behavior can be described as a discrete motion of a particle in a periodic potential, i.e., the so-called stepper-motor behavior. Strikingly, in the more conventional low frequency response a transition takes place from an Abrikosov vortex rectifier to a phase slip line rectifier. This transition is characterized by a strong increase in the rectified voltage and the appearance of a pronounced hysteretic behavior.
authors.affiliation: INPAC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van de Vondel
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Gladilin
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Silhanek
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gillijns
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tempere
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Devreese
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Moshchalkov
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum