Lorentz microscopy observation of vortices in high-Tc superconductors using a 1-MV field emission transmission electron microscope

Abstract

Lorentz microscopy has opened the door to observing a single quantized magnetic flux line (i.e. a vortex) and its dynamic behavior inside a superconductor in real time. It resulted from the efforts of Dr Akira Tonomura and his collaborators, who developed a field emission electron microscope and advanced the technologies used for visualizing vortices (e.g. a low-temperature specimen stage and a magnetic-field application system). They used a 1-MV field emission transmission electron microscope with an electron beam that can penetrate thick specimens of high-temperature superconductors (Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and YB2C3O7-δ) to reveal the flux-line features inside materials and their interactions with defects. This memorial paper reviews the results of research in the area of vortex matter physics.

Keywords: 1-MV field emission electron microscope; Lorentz microscopy; electron holography; high-Tc superconductor; quantized magnetic flux line; vortex.