Surface superconductivity changes of niobium sheets by femtosecond laser-induced periodic nanostructures

Cubero, Á. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Martínez, E. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Angurel, L.A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; de la Fuente, G.F. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Navarro, R. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Legall, H. ; Krüger, J. ; Bonse, J.

Resumen: Irradiation with ultra-short (femtosecond) laser beams enables the generation of sub-wavelength laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) over large areas with controlled spatial periodicity, orientation, and depths affecting only a material layer on the sub-micrometer scale. This study reports on how fs-laser irradiation of commercially available Nb foil samples affects their superconducting behavior. DC magnetization and AC susceptibility measurements at cryogenic temperatures and with magnetic fields of different amplitude and orientation are thus analyzed and reported. This study pays special attention to the surface superconducting layer that persists above the upper critical magnetic field strength Hc2, and disappears at a higher nucleation field strength Hc3 . Characteristic changes were distinguished between the surface properties of the laser-irradiated samples, as compared to the corresponding reference samples (non-irradiated). Clear correlations have been observed between the surface nanostructures and the nucleation field Hc3, which depends on the relative orientation of the magnetic field and the surface patterns developed by the laser irradiation.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/nano10122525

Año: 2020

Publicado en: Nanomaterials 10, 12 (2020), 2525 [1-16]
ISSN: 2079-4991

Factor impacto JCR: 5.076 (2020)

Categ. JCR: PHYSICS, APPLIED rank: 35 / 160 = 0.219 (2020) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: NANOSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOGY rank: 51 / 106 = 0.481 (2020) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 55 / 178 = 0.309 (2020) - Q2 - T1
Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 103 / 333 = 0.309 (2020) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.919 - Materials Science (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous) (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA-FEDER/Construyendo Europa desde Aragón
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/T54-20R

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Cienc.Mater. Ingen.Metal. (Dpto. Ciencia Tecnol.Mater.Fl.)