Geometrical edge barriers and magnetization in superconducting strips with slits

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the magnetic-field and current distributions for coplanar superconducting strips with slits in an applied magnetic field H_a. We consider ideal strips with no bulk pinning and calculate the hysteretic behavior of the magnetic moment m_y as a function of H_a due solely to geometrical edge barriers. We find that the m_y-H_a curves are strongly affected by the slits. In an ascending field, the m_y-H_a curves exhibit kink or peak structures, because the slits prevent penetration of magnetic flux. In a descending field, m_y becomes positive, because magnetic flux is trapped in the slits, in contrast to the behavior of a single strip without slits, for which m_y =0.