Vortex Pinning due to Dynamic Spin–Vortex Interaction in a Superconductor/Ferromagnet Multilayer

We investigate the mutual interaction between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in a Nb/Ni81Fe19 multilayer by ac susceptibility measurements. Compared with a pure superconducting Nb film, the critical current density of the multilayer is apparently enhanced in a low magnetic field region but remains nearly the same in high magnetic fields, which indicates that a continuous ferromagnetic layer with in-plane magnetization can produce strong vortex pinning in a low field region. We interpret this unusual vortex-pinning phenomenon as a consequence of dynamic spin–vortex interaction which induces a spin rotation following vortex movement. In addition, we propose that this dynamic interaction could be used for spin manipulation via a superconductor.