Interaction of fluxons with Abrikosov vortices in long Josephson junctions

Low-temperature scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the interaction of fluxons (Josephson vortices) with a superconducting (Abrikosov) vortex trapped in one of the electrodes of a long quasi-one-dimensional Josephson junction. The Abrikosov vortex penetrated a top superconducting film and spread out in the tunnel barrier area between the films. It was possible to move the Abrikosov vortex across the junction by the electron beam and to measure at the same time the value of the critical current of the junction. The bound states of a fluxon trapped by the Abrikosov vortex in the Josephson junction were also observed.>