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arXiv:2602.13060

Quantitative imaging of Abrikosov vortices by scanning quantum magnetometry

Clemens Schäfermeier, Ankit Sharma, Christopher Kelvin von Grundherr, Dieter Andres, Andrea Morales, Jan Rhensius, Gabriel Puebla-Hellmann, Mirko Bacani

cond-mat.supr-conphysics.ins-detquant-phSubmitted Feb 13, 2026• Announced Feb 16, 2026• Revised Feb 24, 2026 (v2)
v1 · Feb 13, 2026v2 · Feb 24, 2026
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Abstract

Understanding vortex matter in type-II superconductors is central to controlling dissipation and flux pinning in superconducting materials and devices. Here, we use cryogenic scanning nitrogen vacancy magnetometry (NVM) to image Abrikosov vortices in the cuprate superconductors BSCCO-2212 and YBCO under controlled field-cooled conditions. Measurements, which are performed using continuous-wave optically detected magnetic resonance (cw-ODMR) in a closed-cycle cryostat, yield quantitative magnetic-field maps with nanoscale spatial resolution. In BSCCO-2212 at 71 K, we resolve a well-ordered triangular vortex lattice, whose symmetry and spacing are confirmed through 2D Fourier analysis and are consistent with flux quantization. YBCO thin films imaged at 3 K exhibit a more disordered vortex arrangement reflecting stronger pinning, while maintaining quantitative agreement between measured vortex density and the applied magnetic field. These results render our cryogenic scanning NVM a reliable quantitative tool for real-space studies of vortices in high-$T_c$ superconductors, in particular since such a remarkable magnetic resolution has been achieved within relatively short acquisition times of 2 to 4 h.

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Understanding vortex matter in type-II superconductors is central to controlling dissipation and flux pinning in superconducting materials and devices. Here, we use cryogenic scanning nitrogen vacancy magnetometry (NVM) to image Abrikosov vortices in the cuprate superconductors BSCCO-2212 and YBCO under controlled field-cooled conditions. Measurements, which are performed using continuous-wave optically detected magnetic resonance (cw-ODMR) in a closed-cycle cryostat, yield quantitative magnetic-field maps with nanoscale spatial resolution. In BSCCO-2212 at 71 K, we resolve a well-ordered triangular vortex lattice, whose symmetry and spacing are confirmed through 2D Fourier analysis and are consistent with flux quantization. YBCO thin films imaged at 3 K exhibit a more disordered vortex arrangement reflecting stronger pinning, while maintaining quantitative agreement between measured vortex density and the applied magnetic field. These results render our cryogenic scanning NVM a reliable quantitative tool for real-space studies of vortices in high-TcT_cTc​ superconductors, in particular since such a remarkable magnetic resolution has been achieved within relatively short acquisition times of 2 to 4 h.
In order to investigate the vortex lattice melting transition in detail Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ δ Scanning Hall probe microscopy (SHPM), a novel scanned probe magnetic imaging method, has been developed for single crystals. Using an integrated scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) or atomic force microscope (AFM) tip, the topography of a material can be recorded in real-time, enabling correlation with magnetic images later on. The numerous advantages of SHPM over other methods include its almost complete non-invasiveness and its suitability across a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. (0.3-300 Kelvin(K) and 0-7 Tesla (T), respectively), and its capacity to offer magnetic induction's z-component in quantitative maps. Photographing vortices at low temperatures in type II superconductors is made possible by the method's strong signal-to-noise ratio and reasonably good spatial resolution (>100 nm). Making use of models that GaAs/AlGaAs diameters between “0.4 µm - 0.8 µm high-resolution scanning Semiconductor 2DEG Hall probe microscopy (SHPM) Two orthogonal forms of flux structure, named Josephson vortices and pancake vortices, respectively, are generated in the crossing lattices domain of these highly anisotropic superconductors under tilted magnetic fields, according to research using Hall probe devices. (JVs and PVs)”. We see clear evidence for the formation about vortex lattice structures from H=+2.5 Oersted (Oe) gradually disappear.
Understanding and controlling vortex motion in superconductors are important both for suppressing dissipation in superconducting devices and for device applications that exploit vortices. In this work, we quantitatively imaged the stray magnetic field distribution of vortices in an NbN thin film by wide-field magnetic imaging using a perfectly aligned diamond nitrogen-vacancy ensemble. By continuously measuring while stepwise varying the applied magnetic field under local laser heating, we captured a rearrangement of the vortex configuration in real space and in real time over more than 100 min. The observed vortex rearrangement is consistent with a reduction of the pinning force due to local laser heating and with the Lorentz force exerted by shielding currents induced by the field variation. These results provide insight into vortex dynamics and suggest potential applications, including vortex exclusion from sensitive regions of superconducting devices.
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We report on the implementation of a scanning nitrogen-vacancy (NV) magnetometer in a dry dilution refrigerator. Using pulsed optically detected magnetic resonance combined with efficient microwave delivery through a co-planar waveguide, we reach a base temperature of 350 mK, limited by experimental heat load and thermalization of the probe. We demonstrate scanning NV magnetometry by imaging superconducting vortices in a 50-nm-thin aluminum microstructure. The sensitivity of our measurements is approximately 3 μT per square root Hz. Our work demonstrates the feasibility for performing noninvasive magnetic field imaging with scanning NV centers at sub-Kelvin temperatures.
The spatial distribution of a magnetic field can be determined with micrometer resolution using widefield nitrogen vacancy (NV) center magnetic imaging. Nevertheless, reconstructing the magnetic field from the raw data can be challenging due to the degeneracy of the four possible NV axes and the tremendous amount of data. While a qualitative approach is sufficient for most analyses, a quantitative analysis offers deeper insight into the physical system. Here, we apply NV widefield magnetic imaging to a HgBa2_{2}2​Ca2_{2}2​Cu3_{3}3​O8+δ_{8+δ}8+δ​ (Hg-1223) superconducting microcrystal at a pressure of 4 GPa. We fit the results with solutions from the Hamiltonian describing the NV center ground state and take into account the relative intensities of the resonances to determine the local magnetic field magnitude and angle. Thus, we reconstruct the temperature-dependent expulsion of the magnetic field due to the Meissner effect around the superconductor. By comparing the resulting parameters to Brandt's model, which describes the magnetic behavior of a type-II superconductor, we extract the critical current density jcj_cjc​. Overall, this work showcases the first widefield quantitative reconstruction of the Meissner effect under pressure and an optical method to study critical current density. Thus, it provides new insights into the application of NV magnetometry to superconductivity research at high pressures.