Magnetic Avalanches Research Articles

The synchronous measurement of mechanical and magnetic characteristics of superconducting materials in extreme environments

Thermomagnetic instability typically occurs before the quench of high temperature superconductors. Magnetic perturbation and thermal agitation are known to be the main driving force of thermomagnetic instability. However, the interaction between mechanical deformation and the thermomagnetic instability is still unclear. To investigate the phenomenon and inner principle of the thermomagnetic instability induced by mechanical deformation, an experimental method is proposed for the in-situ, real-time, and synchronous test of mechanical deformation and magnetic flux based on digital imaging correlation (DIC) and magneto-optical imaging (MOI). Under the current-carrying and external magnetic field conditions, uniaxial tensile tests of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) coated conductors (CCs) are carried out, in which the evolution and distribution magnetic flux induced by strain are studied. At the same time, chemical etching is adopted to explore the damage caused by mechanical deformation in YBCO layer. It is found through the experiment that the mechanical deformation can induce thermomagnetic instability, and threshold of strain for inducing flux motions is obtained. Meanwhile, magnetic flux avalanche occurs in front end of the flux penetration area in the case of current carrying. In addition, plenty of various-sizes transverse cracks are discovered in the superconducting layer whose distribution area basically coincides with the flux penetration area. The experiment results reveal the intrinsic correlation between the mechanical deformation and thermomagnetic instability of high temperature superconducting wires, which provides a direct experimental approach for the study of unpredicted quench behaviors of superconducting magnets.

Barkhausen noise in disordered striplike ferromagnets: Experiment versus simulations.

In this work, we present a systematic comparison of the results obtained from the low-frequency Barkhausen noise recordings in nanocrystalline samples with those from the numerical simulations of the random-field Ising model systems. We performed measurements at room temperature on a field-driven metallic glass stripe made of VITROPERM 800R, a nanocrystalline iron-based material with an excellent combination of soft and magnetic properties, making it a cutting-edge material for a wide range of applications. Given that the Barkhausen noise emissions emerging along a hysteresis curve are stochastic and depend in general on a variety of factors (such as distribution of disorder due to impurities or defects, varied size of crystal grains, type of domain structure, driving rate of the external magnetic field, sample shape and temperature, etc.), adequate theoretical modeling is essential for their interpretation and prediction. Here the Random field Ising model, specifically its athermal nonequilibrium version with the finite driving rate, stands out as an appropriate choice due to the material's nanocrystalline structure and high Curie temperature. We performed a systematic analysis of the signal properties and magnetization avalanches comparing the outcomes of the numerical model and experiments carried out in a two-decade-wide range of the external magnetic field driving rates. Our results reveal that with a suitable choice of parameters, a considerable match with the experimental results is achieved, indicating that this model can accurately describe the Barkhausen noise features in nanocrystalline samples.

Laser nanostructured metasurfaces in Nb superconducting thin films

Superconducting Nb thin films have been nanostructured by means of a femtosecond UV laser. Laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) with lateral modulation of ≈250nm and depth smaller than amplitude (≲20nm from crest to trough) are obtained for optimized laser scanning conditions over the film surface, i.e. power, frequency, scanning speed and polarization. This provides a fast and scalable procedure of surface control at the nanoscale. In thin films, control over the kinetics of the LIPSS formation process has been crucial. Untreated and laser-patterned samples have been characterized by electron and atomic force microscopy as well as by local and global magnetometry. The superconducting properties reveal anisotropic behavior in accordance with the observed topography. The imprinted LIPSS define channels for anisotropic current flow and flux penetration. At low temperatures, magnetic flux avalanches are promoted by the increased critical current density, though flux tends to be channeled along the LIPSS. In general, directional flux penetration is observed, being a useful feature in fluxonic devices. Scalability allows us to pattern areas of the order of cm2/min.

Catastrophic magnetic flux avalanches in NbTiN superconducting resonators

Macroscopic superconducting components are an important building block of various quantum circuits. Since several of the envisioned applications require exposure to magnetic fields, it is of utmost importance to explore the impact of magnetic fields on their performance. Here we explore the complex pattern of magnetic field penetration and identify its impact on the resonance frequency of NbTiN superconducting resonators by combining magneto-optical imaging and high-frequency measurements. At temperatures below approximately half of the superconducting critical temperature, the development of magnetic flux avalanches manifests itself as a noisy response in the field-dependent resonance frequency. Magneto-optical imaging reveals different regimes and distinguishes the impact of avalanches in the ground plane and resonator. Our findings demonstrate that superconducting resonators represent a valuable tool to investigate magnetic flux dynamics. Moreover, the current blooming of niobium-based superconducting radio-frequency devices makes this report timely by unveiling the severe implications of magnetic flux dynamics.

Self-organized criticality of magnetic avalanches in disordered ferrimagnetic material.

We observe multiple steplike jumps in a Dy-Fe-Ga-based ferrimagnetic alloy in its magnetic hysteresis curve at 2K. The observed jumps are found to have a stochastic character with respect to their magnitude and the field position, and the jumps do not correlate with the duration of the field. The distribution of jump size follows a power law variation indicating the scale invariance nature of the jumps. We have invoked a simple two-dimensional random bond Ising-type spin system to model the dynamics. Our computational model can qualitatively reproduce the jumps and their scale-invariant character. It also elucidates that the flipping of antiferromagnetically coupled Dy and Fe clusters is responsible for the observed jumps in the hysteresis loop. These features are described in terms of the self-organized criticality.

Thermomagnetic Instabilities in Nb Films Deposited on Glass Substrates

In this work, we provide a systematic study of the magnetic field penetration process and avalanche formation in niobium films of different thicknesses deposited on glass substrates. The research was carried out by means of direct visualization of the magnetic flux using magneto-optical imaging. The experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions for the development of thermomagnetic instabilities in the form of finger or dendritic flux avalanches in thin films. Analysis of the temperature and thickness dependence of threshold magnetic field at which superconductor first becomes unstable, as well as the flux penetration depth corresponding to this field allows the evaluation of the thermal and superconducting parameters of the studied films, such as heat transfer coefficient across the film-substrate boundary, thermal conductivity, critical current density.

Tunable domino effect of thermomagnetic instabilities in superconducting films with multiply-connected topological structures

Topology is a crucial ingredient for understanding the physical properties of superconductors. Magnetic field crowds to adopt the form of topologically-protected quantum flux lines which can lose this property when moving at high velocities. These extreme conditions can be realized when superconductors undergo a thermomagnetic instability for which the sample topology come also into play. In this work, utilizing the magneto-optical imaging technique, we experimentally study magnetic flux avalanches in superconducting films with multiply-connected geometries, including single and double rings. We observe a domino effect in which avalanches triggered at the outer ring, stimulate avalanches at the inner ring thus impairing the expected magnetic shielding resulting from the outer ring and gap. We implement numerical simulations in order to gain more insight into the underlying physical mechanism and demonstrate that such event is not caused by the heat conduction, but mainly attributed to the local current distribution variation near the preceding flux avalanche in the outer ring, which in turn has a ripple effect on the local magnetic field profile in the gap. Furthermore, we find that the domino effect of thermomagnetic instabilities can be switched on/off by the environmental temperature and the gap width between the concentric rings. These findings provide new insights on the thermomagnetic instability in superconducting devices with complex topological structures, such as the superconductor–insulator–superconductor multilayer structures of superconducting radio-frequency cavities.

Tunable magnetic flux avalanches triggered by a focalized laser spot

Magnetic flux avalanches caused by thermomagnetic instabilities are a common phenomenon occurring in type II superconducting films. The unpredictability of these catastrophic events threaten the application of superconducting thin film equipment, such as high-temperature superconducting magnets. In the present work, through the fast Fourier transform method, we numerically investigate artificially triggered flux avalanches in superconducting films by a focalized laser, unveiling new features beyond those associated to naturally occurring avalanches. The numerical modeling is validated by reproducing previous experimental results. We investigate the effects of laser irradiation on the nucleation and evolution of flux avalanches for different cases, namely varying the laser irradiation position, laser power, laser-spot size, ramping rate of applied magnetic field and working temperature. We find that the laser irradiation can control and guide the position of flux avalanches at applied magnetic fields with small ramping rate, while similar guidance effect cannot be observed at high ramping rates. We demonstrate that such phenomenon can be tuned by the environmental temperature, and the underlying physical mechanism can be ascribed to current crowding and local heating around the laser spot. Furthermore, by considering a pair of laser spots, we observe two possible scenarios depending on the laser power, (i) single flux avalanche triggered at one of the laser spots and (ii) double flux avalanches triggered at both laser spots.

Enhancement of critical current density and strong vortex pinning in high entropy alloy superconductor Ta[formula omitted]Nb[formula omitted]Hf[formula omitted]Zr[formula omitted]Ti[formula omitted] synthesized by spark plasma sintering

We synthesized the high entropy alloy (HEA) Ta1/6Nb2/6Hf1/6Zr1/6Ti1/6 compound by planetary ball milling and the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The sintered HEA sample had a BCC crystal structure with small amount of secondary phases. The superconducting phase transition is observed in the electrical resistivity (Tc∼ 7.8 K) and magnetic susceptibility (Tc∼ 7.6 K) measurements, and the Tc was similar to that of an arc-melted sample. The zero-temperature limit of the upper critical magnetic fields Hc2(0)= 10.5 T and coherence length ξ = 5.66 nm were slightly decreased or comparable to the arc-melted HEA sample (Hc2(0)= 12.05 T and ξ= 5.23 nm). The field-dependent isothermal magnetization hysteresis M(H) exhibited the typical type- 2 superconducting behavior with magnetic flux avalanches in the low magnetic field region. The calculated critical current densities were significantly increased by 286 % (Jc= 32,606 A cm−2 at 2 K) ∼ 687 % (Jc= 73,200 A cm−2 at 4 K) compared to the arc-melted HEA sample (Jc= 11,401 A cm−2 at T= 2 K). The enhanced Jc of the sintered HEA sample is caused by enhancement of the pinning force due to point pinning as well as surface pinning effects. The vortex relaxation measurements showed stable remanent magnetization for over 10,000 s after magnetic fields were turned off, which is unlike conventional sueprconducting vortex relaxation behavior. The strong pinning force in the SPS sintered Ta1/6Nb2/6Hf1/6Zr1/6Ti1/6 compound is beneficial for practical applications because of the significantly enhanced critical current density Jc with stable remanent magnetization Mrem(t).

Metamorphosis of discontinuity lines and rectification of magnetic flux avalanches in the presence of noncentrosymmetric pinning forces

Considering a noncentrosymmetric pinning texture composed of a square array of triangular holes, the magnetic flux penetration and expulsion are investigated experimentally and theoretically. A direct visualization of the magnetic landscape obtained using a magneto-optical technique on a Nb film is complemented by a multiscale numerical modeling. This combined approach allows the magnetic flux dynamics to be identified from the single flux quantum limit up to the macroscopic electromagnetic response. Within the theoretical framework provided by time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations, an estimation of the in-plane current anisotropy is obtained and its dependence with the radius of the curvature of hole vertices is addressed. These simulations show that current crowding plays an important role in channeling the flux motion, favoring hole-to-hole flux hopping rather than promoting interstitial flux displacement in between the holes. The resulting anisotropy of the critical current density gives rise to a distinct pattern of discontinuity lines for increasing and decreasing applied magnetic fields, in sharp contrast to the invariable patterns reported for centrosymmetric pinning potentials. This observation is partially accounted for by the rectification effect, as demonstrated by finite-element modeling. At low temperatures, where magnetic field penetration is dominated by thermomagnetic instabilities, highly directional magnetic flux avalanches with a fingerlike shape are observed to propagate along the easy axis of the pinning potential. This morphology is reproduced by numerical simulations. Our findings demonstrate that anisotropic pinning landscapes and, in particular, ratchet potentials produce subtle modifications to the critical state field profile that are reflected in the distribution of discontinuity lines.

Selective triggering of magnetic flux avalanches by an edge indentation

We numerically investigate the effect of an edge indentation on the threshold field of thermomagnetic instabilities in superconducting films subjected to a ramping magnetic field, applied perpendicular to the plane of the film. In particular, we are able to address the question on whether edge indentations promote magnetic flux avalanches. For the magnetic field-independent critical current density model, the triggering of the first magnetic flux avalanche systematically occurs at the edge indentation. In contrast to that, for the more realistic field-dependent critical current density model the first flux avalanche can take place either at or away from the indentation. This selective triggering of magnetic flux avalanches is shown to result from two effects. Namely, (i) the variation of the threshold magnetic field for the first flux avalanche triggered at the indentation and (ii) the reduction of the critical current density by large local magnetic fields at the tip of the indentation which translates in a lower power density dissipated near the tip. We demonstrate that this interplay can be tuned by varying the indentation size, ramp rate of applied field ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{H}}_{a}$, and working temperature ${T}_{0}$. We build up a phase diagram in the ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}{\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{H}}_{a}\ensuremath{-}{T}_{0}$ plane with well-defined boundaries separating three distinct regimes of thermomagnetic instability.

Magnetic flux avalanches in Nb/NbN thin films

Technological applications of NbN thin films may be threatened by the development of magnetic flux avalanches of thermomagnetic origin appearing in a large portion of the superconducting phase. In this work, we describe an approach to substantially suppress the magnetic flux avalanche regime, without compromising the upper critical field. This procedure consists of depositing a thin Nb layer before the reactive deposition of NbN, thus forming a bi-layered system. We use ac susceptibility and dc magnetometry to characterize both the single-layer films, Nb and NbN, and the bi-layered specimen, as well as calibrated magneto-optical imaging to map the instability regime of the studied samples. Magnetic flux imaging reveals interesting features of the dendritic flux avalanches in the bi-layer system, including halo-like patterns and crossing avalanches.

Modulation of millimetre-wave and THz properties of IMPATT sources via external magnetic field

The modulation of millimetre-wave (mm-wave) and terahertz (THz) properties of impact avalanche transit time (IMPATT) sources under external steady magnetic field has been studied in this paper. The arrangement of magnetic field tuning of IMPATT oscillators by using external transverse steady magnetic field is referred to as magnetic field tunable avalanche transit time (MAGTATT) oscillators. The sensitivities of various static, large-signal and noise characteristics of silicon-based MAGTATT sources operating at mm-wave atmospheric window frequencies (94, 140 and 220 GHz) and two different THz frequencies (0.3 and 0.5 THz) have been studied. Comprehensive two-dimensional simulation models developed by the authors for evaluating static, large-signal and noise characteristics of MATATT diodes have been used for this purpose. The simulation results show that the above-mentioned magnetic field sensitivities of the device properties are significantly reduced with the increase of the operating frequency.

Implementation of the code for the simulation of the response of a triple-GEM tracker and its comparison to the experimental data

In the framework of detector development, Monte Carlo simulations play a key role in the evaluation of the expected performance and the full understanding of the behavior in beam conditions. In particular, a software which simulates the response of the detector to the particle passage is mandatory to test different setups and solutions, such as geometries, fields, voltages etc. and to understand the test beam data. For gas trackers, existing softwares, such as GARFIELD, perform a very detailed simulation of the physical processes but are also CPU time consuming. For the new cylindrical GEM tracker of BESIII, a faster code which models the results obtained from GARFIELD and adapts them to the experimental data, collected in several test beams, has been written. It reproduces the behavior of a planar triple-GEM under different working conditions and, when completed, it will be inserted in the official code of BESIII. A description of the procedure, based on different components (ionization, diffusion and magnetic field, avalanche multiplication, signal induction and readout) will be given and its results will be compared to the GARFIELD simulations and to the experimental data.

Rings and gaps produced by variable magnetic disc winds and avalanche accretion streams – I. Axisymmetric resistive MHD simulations

Rings and gaps are being observed in an increasing number of disks around young stellar objects. We illustrate the formation of such radial structures through idealized, 2D (axisymmetric) resistive MHD simulations of coupled disk-wind systems threaded by a relatively weak poloidal magnetic field (plasma-$\beta \sim 10^3$). We find two distinct modes of accretion depending on the resistivity and field strength. A small resistivity or high field strength promotes the development of rapidly infalling `avalanche accretion streams' in a vertically extended disk envelope that dominates the dynamics of the system, especially the mass accretion. The streams are suppressed in simulations with larger resistivities or lower field strengths, where most of the accretion instead occurs through a laminar disk. In these simulations, the disk accretion is driven mainly by a slow wind that is typically accelerated by the pressure gradient from a predominantly toroidal magnetic field. Both wind-dominated and stream-dominated modes of accretion create prominent features in the surface density distribution of the disk, including rings and gaps, with a strong spatial variation of the magnetic flux relative to the mass. Regions with low mass-to-flux ratios accrete quickly, leading to the development of gaps, whereas regions with higher mass-to-flux ratios tend to accrete more slowly, allowing matter to accumulate and form dense rings. In some cases, avalanche accretion streams are observed to produce dense rings directly through continuous feeding. We discuss the implications of ring and gap formation driven by winds and streams on grain growth and planet formation.

Multiphase magnetic deflagrations in a Nd5Ge3 single crystal

We report magnetic deflagration phenomena ocurring in both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases in a single crystal of the intermetallic compound Nd5Ge3. We have investigated, using a trigger heat pulse, the spatial and time-resolved evolution of induced magnetic avalanches as a function of the applied magnetic field. The experimental data fit well with the theory of magnetic deflagration.

Numerical simulation on the flux avalanche behaviors of microstructured superconducting thin films

Controlling and suppressing the propagation of magnetic flux avalanches is an important issue for the application of type-II superconductors. The effects of engineered pinning centers (antidots) on the guidance of flux avalanche propagation paths in type-II superconducting thin films are numerically investigated by solving the coupled nonlinear Maxwell's equations and the thermal diffusion equations. The field dependence of critical current density is considered in the simulation in this paper. Dynamic propagations of the thermomagnetic avalanches within the superconducting films patterned with different arrangements of antidots (like random, periodic square, and conformal mapping arrays) are presented. We reveal that presence of the antidots significantly modifies the propagation paths of the avalanches. The flux avalanche patterns of the superconducting films change with the variation of the arrangements of antidots. The patterned antidots in the form of conformal mapping arrays within the superconducting film exhibit strong guidance to the thermomagnetic avalanches. In addition, introducing the antidots in the form of conformal mapping arrays into the superconducting film can effectively lower the magnetic flux jump sizes.

Real-space observation of magnetic excitations and avalanche behavior in artificial quasicrystal lattices.

Artificial spin ice lattices have emerged as model systems for studying magnetic frustration in recent years. Most work to date has looked at periodic artificial spin ice lattices. In this paper, we observe frustration effects in quasicrystal artificial spin ice lattices that lack translational symmetry and contain vertices with different numbers of interacting elements. We find that as the lattice state changes following demagnetizing and annealing, specific vertex motifs retain low-energy configurations, which excites other motifs into higher energy configurations. Additionally, we find that unlike the magnetization reversal process for periodic artificial spin ice lattices, which occurs through 1D avalanches, quasicrystal lattices undergo reversal through a dendritic 2D avalanche mechanism.

Effect of the martensite twin structure on the deformation induced magnetic avalanches in Ni2MnGa single crystalline samples

The noise energy versus strain functions, obtained from bending deformation induced magnetic noises, are different for different twin structures of Ni2MnGa single crystals and have two characteristically different stages: unipolar magnetic signals, reflecting the elastic strain induced rearrangement of magnetic domains, as well as bipolar signals, belonging to rearrangements of the martensite variant structure. The critical exponents of the probability density functions of energy and amplitude were larger for samples with highly mobile twin II boundaries than for the other two samples in the bipolar regime. The noise energy is considerably smaller for the motion of twin II boundaries.

Barkhausen noise in the random field Ising magnetNd2Fe14B

With sintered needles aligned and a magnetic field applied transverse to its easy axis, the rare-earth ferromagnet Nd_2Fe_(14)B becomes a room-temperature realization of the random field Ising model. The transverse field tunes the pinning potential of the magnetic domains in a continuous fashion. We study the magnetic domain reversal and avalanche dynamics between liquid helium and room temperatures at a series of transverse fields using a Barkhausen noise technique. The avalanche size and energy distributions follow power-law behavior with a cutoff dependent on the pinning strength dialed in by the transverse field, consistent with theoretical predictions for Barkhausen avalanches in disordered materials. A scaling analysis reveals two regimes of behavior: one at low temperature and high transverse field, where the dynamics are governed by the randomness, and the second at high temperature and low transverse field, where thermal fluctuations dominate the dynamics.