Magnetic flux penetration into micron-sized superconductor/ferromagnet bilayers

Flux penetration into small superconductor/ferromagnet elements is investigated by magneto-optical imaging and magnetic scanning transmission x-ray microscopy at low temperatures. It is found that penetration of magnetic flux into a thin bilayer of YBCO and Py strongly depends on the direction of a perpendicular magnetic field. The soft-magnetic layer acts as an amplifier for magnetic in-plane components that are generated by electric currents in the superconductor. These in-plane components point in opposite direction above the ferromagnet and below the superconductor. As a consequence a strong inclination of the local magnetic field occurs that significantly slows down or speeds up the flux penetration into such elements. From detailed magnetic scanning x-ray microscopy results it is found that the effect dramatically increases if the elements get smaller. In 20 x 20 mu m(2) superconducting squares we observe magnetic flux penetration that differs by more than a factor of four when reversing the external magnetic field.