Observation of vortex coalescence in the anisotropic spin-triplet superconductor Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$
arXiv:cond-mat/0406195 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.097004
Abstract
We present direct imaging of magnetic flux structures in the anisotropic, spin-triplet superconductor Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ using a scanning $μ$SQUID microscope. Individual quantized vortices were seen at low magnetic fields. Coalescing vortices forming flux domains were revealed at intermediate fields. Based on our observations we suggest that a mechanism intrinsic to the material stabilizes the flux domains against the repulsive vortex-vortex interaction. Topological defects like domain walls can provide this, implying proof for unconventional chiral superconductivity.
submitted to PRL