Creating functional nanostructures for vortex manipulation in superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x thin films via focused He ion beam irradiation
Abstract
Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (Bi-2212) is a highly anisotropic high-temperature superconductor exhibiting unique vortex dynamics due to its layered structure. Precise nanoscale patterning of ultrathin Bi-2212 films remains challenging, limiting controlled studies of vortex pinning. Here, we employ 30 keV focused helium ion beam (He-FIB) irradiation to fabricate periodic arrays of columnar defects with 100 nm spacings in optimally-doped Bi-2212 thin films, thereby creating artificial vortex pinning centers. Magnetotransport measurements reveal pronounced vortex matching effects, evidenced by minima in magnetoresistance and peaks in critical current at commensurate magnetic fields. The angular dependence of magnetoresistance and critical current scale with an effective magnetic field, indicating strong confinement of pancake vortices along irradiation-induced tracks. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of He-FIB nanopatterning in modulating the superconducting properties in Bi-2212 thin films, providing a platform for fundamental studies of vortex matter and advancing prospects for device applications based on this highly anisotropic superconductor.
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BibTeX
@misc{aichner2026creating,
title = {{Creating functional nanostructures for vortex manipulation in superconducting Bi$_\text2$Sr$_\text2$CaCu$_\text2$O$_\text8+x$ thin films via focused He ion beam irradiation}},
author = {Bernd Aichner and Christoph Schmid and Sandra Keppert and Reinhold Kleiner and Edward Goldobin and Johannes D. Pedarnig and Dieter Koelle and Wolfgang Lang},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.41827},
eprint = {2610.41827},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.41827},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Creating functional nanostructures for vortex manipulation in superconducting Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8+x thin films via focused He ion beam irradiation
AU - Bernd Aichner
AU - Christoph Schmid
AU - Sandra Keppert
AU - Reinhold Kleiner
AU - Edward Goldobin
AU - Johannes D. Pedarnig
AU - Dieter Koelle
AU - Wolfgang Lang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.41827
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.41827
AB - Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8+x (Bi-2212) is a highly anisotropic high-temperature superconductor exhibiting unique vortex dynamics due to its layered structure. Precise nanoscale patterning of ultrathin Bi-2212 films remains challenging, limiting controlled studies of vortex pinning. Here, we employ 30 keV focused helium ion beam (He-FIB) irradiation to fabricate periodic arrays of columnar defects with 100 nm spacings in optimally-doped Bi-2212 thin films, thereby creating artificial vortex pinning centers. Magnetotransport measurements reveal pronounced vortex matching effects, evidenced by minima in magnetoresistance and peaks in critical current at commensurate magnetic fields. The angular dependence of magnetoresistance and critical current scale with an effective magnetic field, indicating strong confinement of pancake vortices along irradiation-induced tracks. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of He-FIB nanopatterning in modulating the superconducting properties in Bi-2212 thin films, providing a platform for fundamental studies of vortex matter and advancing prospects for device applications based on this highly anisotropic superconductor.
ER -