Abrikosov vortex

In superconductivity, a fluxon (also called an Abrikosov vortex or quantum vortex) is a vortex of supercurrent in a type-II superconductor, used by Soviet physicist Alexei Abrikosov to explain magnetic behavior of type-II superconductors.

[2] Abrikosov vortices occur generically in the Ginzburg–Landau theory of superconductivity.

The solution is a combination of fluxon solution by Fritz London,[3][4] combined with a concept of core of quantum vortex by Lars Onsager.

— the superconducting coherence length (parameter of a Ginzburg–Landau theory).

The circulating supercurrents induce magnetic fields with the total flux equal to a single flux quantum

Therefore, an Abrikosov vortex is often called a fluxon.

The magnetic field distribution of a single vortex far from its core can be described by the same equation as in the London's fluxoid [3] [4] where

Abrikosov vortices can be trapped in a type-II superconductor by chance, on defects, etc.

Even if initially type-II superconductor contains no vortices, and one applies a magnetic field

), the field penetrates into superconductor in terms of Abrikosov vortices.

Each vortex obeys London's magnetic flux quantization and carries one quantum of magnetic flux

[3][4] Abrikosov vortices form a lattice, usually triangular, with the average vortex density (flux density) approximately equal to the externally applied magnetic field.