Vortex-antivortex pair generation by an in-plane magnetic dipole on a superconducting film

Abstract

We apply the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach to describe the nucleation of vortex-antivortex pairs in a hybrid system, formed by a thin superconducting film with a single in-plane magnetic dipole on top of it, and to simulate the vortex dynamics in the presence of a direct transport current. At current densities, sufficient to depin vortices and antivortices from a magnetic dipole, it periodically generates vortex-antivortex pairs, producing vortex and antivortex streams which eventually coalesce into phase-slip lines with further increasing current. We demonstrate the possibility to efficiently control the generation rate and trajectories of emitted vortices by the applied current density and an additional weak homogeneous magnetic field.