All-optical generation of Abrikosov vortices by the inverse Faraday effect

Within the framework of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory we show\nthat circularly polarized THz or far-infrared radiation induces a dc\nsupercurrent that influences the dynamics of vortex-antivortex pair formation\nin a mesoscopic superconductor undergoing rapid thermal quenching. The Lorentz\nforce arising from the supercurrents promotes vortex-antivortex separation and\nallows survival of the vortex polarity defined by the helicity of light. Based\non this idea, we propose a two-stage irradiation scheme that provides a\npowerful method for controlled all-optical generation of Abrikosov vortices.\n