Vortex transport
Currently, electrons are used to represent
information and process data but alternatives are studied. One possibility is the use of the magnetic properties of
electrons (see our activities on spin injection). While it is extremely demanding to pin down an individual electron and the spin relaxation time is rather short, both problems can be avoided by
using flux quanta in superconductors for the representation of information. These tiny magnetic fields, also
called vortices, remain stable for a long time – theoretically
infinite.
Magnetic vortices appear to be ideal 'Bits' as they are easily produced, stable and well-studied.
The possibility to transport magnetic flux quanta with a
surface acoustic wave is studied. While we were able to show that magnetic flux quanta in superconductors can be
manipulated by SAW in a well-defined way, we now focus on enhancing the effect and we aim at observing SAW-induced vortex-motion in real-time with imaging techniques
This
possibility of manipulating the vortex motion and vortex density by a
dynamic external parameter has far-reaching technological consequences
besides the storage and processing of data.

