Superconducting Vortices Generated Via Spin-Orbit Coupling At Superconductor/Ferromagnet Interfaces

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) plays an important role at superconductor/ferromagnet interfaces. By using the generalized London and Ginzburg-Landau theories, we demonstrate that SOC induces spontaneous vortices in zero applied magnetic field in an s-wave superconductor placed below a ferromagnetic metal with intrinsic or interfacial SOC. Even for small SOC strength, the interaction between SOC and vortices is attractive, pinning vortices along the edges of the ferromagnet with the SOC reinforcing the superconducting state. This Rapid Communication also highlights experimental schemes to investigate these phenomena, which provide a platform for Abrikosov vortex memory.