Effects of sample geometry on the dynamics and configurations of vortices in mesoscopic superconductors

Abstract

A computational study of mixed states in mesoscopic type-II superconducting cylinders is presented. The dependence of transient behaviors and steady-state configurations on the value of the applied magnetic field is examined as are the effects of sample size and cross-sectional shape on vortex nucleation and penetration. As is well known, more vortices enter the sample as the sample size grows. It is also found that if a small indentation is made on the sample boundary, vortices can be made to enter the system one by one from the tip of the indentation. An efficient scheme to determine, for any applied field, the equilibrium vortex configuration in mesoscopic samples in a way that is not constrained by sample symmetries, is devised and demonstrated.