Scanning SQUID Microscopy for Magnetic Flux Systems

Recently, vortices confined into micro-scale superconductors with shapes like a disk, triangle, square, etc., have attracted much attention because of the quantum phase transition of the self-organized vortex arrangement occurring within such geometrical constraints. Such a transition can be observed using a scanning SQUID microscope with high spatial resolution. We have successfully improved spatial resolution by incorporating a microfabrication technique that reduces both the size of the pick-up coil of the micro DC-SQUID and the standoff distance between the pick-up coil and the sample surface. Using this microscope, we have studied vortex arrangements in micro-scale superconductors made of Nb and YBa2Cu3O7−δ films with various sizes and geometrical shapes. A peculiar oscillating behavior of diamagnetic magnetization corresponding to the particular vortex state was observed.