Study of Vortex Dynamics in Asymmetrically Patterned Superconducting Films Using Time-Dependent Ginzburg–Landau Simulations

This work presents a computational study of vortex dynamics and critical current behavior in mesoscopic superconducting films patterned with asymmetric ratchet profiles. Using time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau (TDGL) simulations, I examine how nanoscale asymmetry, magnetic field, and temperature influence the vortex motion, pinning efficiency, and the spatial evolution of the superconducting order parameter. The resulting dynamics is quite complex due to the interplay of the ratchet asymmetry, field-dependent commensurability effects, and intrinsic material defects. The latter could be localized defects or grain boundaries, which will be illustrated at the example of Niobium films. Preliminary results show that increasing the ratchet asymmetry enhances the depinning strength and shifts the critical current density, while temperature and magnetic field variations reveal distinct regimes of vortex mobility and pinning efficiency. Our study of the critical current provides insights into optimizing those pinning landscapes for enhanced asymmetric transport for vortex mitigation applications in, e.g., superconducting microelectronic or even qubit devices.