Magnetic relaxation with vortex creep observed by the magneto-optical image method for high Tc superconducting films

The relaxation of magnetic flux in high Tc superconducting films was investigated. After the samples were cooled in the applied magnetic fields, the magnetic field was turned off and the changes of the remaining magnetic flux distribution were observed by using the magneto-optical image method. The induced current density was examined which varies with the logarithmic-time dependence associated with the creep motions of vortices. The overall magnitude of the induced current density is observed to decrease as the external magnetic field applied during cooling is increased. The range of external fields examined was 30-50 mT. This could be explained by taking into account the formation of meandering shapes of vortices which develop during the period of transition to the creep mode. The results of the numerical simulation for this effect are in good agreement with the experimental results.