All-optical generation of Abrikosov vortices by the inverse Faraday effect
Vadim Plastovets, И. Д. Токман, Brahim Lounis, A. S. Mel’nikov, A. I. Buzdin
Abstract
Within the framework of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory we show that circularly polarized terahertz or far-infrared radiation induces a dc supercurrent that influences the dynamics of vortex-antivortex pair formation in a mesoscopic superconductor undergoing rapid thermal quenching. The Lorentz force arising from the supercurrents promotes vortex-antivortex separation and allows survival of the vortex polarity defined by the helicity of light. Based on this idea, we propose a two-stage irradiation scheme that provides a powerful method for controlled all-optical generation of Abrikosov vortices.
Topics & Concepts
VortexMesoscopic physicsPhysicsCondensed matter physicsSuperconductivityOptical vortexSupercurrentLorentz forceHelicityInversePolarity (international relations)Magnetic fieldQuantum electrodynamicsQuantum mechanicsChemistryJosephson effectCellBiochemistryGeometryMathematicsThermodynamicsPhysics of Superconductivity and MagnetismQuantum and electron transport phenomenaStrong Light-Matter Interactions