Investigation of vortex density in laser-written Π-shaped channel of YBCO bridge by means of I-V dependences

A current-self-induced magnetic field Hj , such that H_c1 < H_j < Hc₂ at T < T_c, penetrates a thin-film, type-II superconductor forming the Abrikosov magnetic vortex-antivortex pairs in the film's areas of weakest superconductivity. Our atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy images confirm that in 50 μm wide, 100 μm long and 0.3 μm thick YBa₂Cu ₃O_7-x superconducting devices magnetic flux penetrates first into a 5 μm wide, Π-shaped and partially deoxygenated (x ≈ 0:2) channel for easy vortex motion. When the Lorentz force overcomes pinning force in the channel, the flux starts to move and its drift dissipates energy inducing dc voltage. This work reports on the density of coherently moving vortices along the channel vs. temperature in range from 0:93T_c to 0:97T _c. Our simulations show that the vortex density vs. temperature dependence extracted from I-V measurements of our devices follows the temperature dependence of magnetic field penetration depth and the coherence length of the superconductor.