Vortex Matter Research by Electron Microscopy – Memorial to Dr. Akira Tonomura –

Abstract

Electron phase microscopy represented by electron holography and Lorentz microscopy, has opened the way to observing a single quantized magnetic flux-line – “vortex” – and its dynamical behavior inside superconductors. It was realized by Dr. Akira Tonomura and his collaborators by developing a field emission electron microscope and by advancing the technologies for visualizing the vortices, for example, low-temperature specimen stage and magnetic-field application system. Electron phase microscopy was clarified to be a powerful tool for investigating the flux-line features inside materials and their configurations with defects. This paper intends to give a review of the research results on vortex matter physics.