title: Imaging Josephson vortices on the surface superconductor Si(111)-(√7×√3)-In using a scanning tunneling microscope.
abstract: We have studied the superconducting Si(111)-(√7×√3)-In surface using a ³He-based low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Zero-bias conductance images taken over a large surface area reveal that vortices are trapped at atomic steps after magnetic fields are applied. The crossover behavior from Pearl to Josephson vortices is clearly identified from their elongated shapes along the steps and significant recovery of superconductivity within the cores. Our numerical calculations combined with experiments clarify that these characteristic features are determined by the relative strength of the interterrace Josephson coupling at the atomic step.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Howon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuto
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.affiliation: CCSE, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8587, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchihashi