Visualization of Abrikosov Vorticles in High-Temperatures Cuprate Superconductors of the BSCCO-2212 Type

In this paper presents the structure of Abrikosov vortices in monocrystals of BSCCO-2212 type (high-temperature cuprate superconductor) which was studied by visualizing it using a high-resolution technique of low-temperature decoration with the smallest ferromagnetic iron particles. The decoration process was made on a special installation at temperatures in cryostat of 4–10 K and amperage through the evaporator up to 10 A. The structure of Abrikosov vortices was studied by scanning electron microscopy using a Zeiss Supra 50VP scanning electron microscope, as well as by the method of constructing Fourier images using multiplatform modular software for visualization and analysis of data from Image-pro-plus and Gwyddion scanning electron microscopy methods. It was found that the lattice of Abrikosov vortices in the region of cores has a dense hexagonal structure. The decoration technique developed in this work makes it possible to detect Abrikosov vortices with sizes from 100 to 200 nm. With an increase in the density of the accumulation of vortices, as a result of magnification in magnetic field, their sizes in region of cores increase, and the distance between them decreases, which indicates a gradual compression of vortices lattice by magnetic field, what is the reason for possible transition of the superconductor to the normal state.