New vortex state in the presence of a long Josephson junction

Abstract It is shown that there are two vortex states for the configuration of an Abrikosov vortex in the presence of a long Josephson junction. One state, dubbed `conventional', carries one magnetic-flux quantum Φ 0 , as does the generating Abrikosov vortex. The second and new vortex state entails in addition to the generating vortex two Josephson vortices with opposite polarity to that of the generating-vortex and its magnetic flux is − Φ 0 . As a function of the vortex core and Josephson junction–plane distance, the accompanying pinning potentials are quasi-degenerate in the near proximity to the Josephson junction plane, where the conventional-vortex-state pinning potential is the lower. Conditions facilitating the experimental observation of the new vortex state and a specific signature are briefly discussed.