Nanoscale magnets might form the building blocks of next generation memories. To explore their functionality, magnetic sensing at the nanoscale is key. We present a multifunctional combination of a scanning nanometer-sized superconducting quantum interference device (nanoSQUID) and a Ni nanotube attached to an ultrasoft cantilever as a magnetic tip. We map out and analyze the magnetic coupling between the Ni tube and the Nb nanoSQUID, demonstrate imaging of an Abrikosov vortex trapped in the SQUID structure - which is important in ruling out spurious magnetic signals - and reveal the high potential of the nanoSQUID as an ultrasensitive displacement detector. Our results open a new avenue for fundamental studies of nanoscale magnetism and superconductivity.
@article{arxiv.1305.1195,
title = {Nanoscale multifunctional sensor formed by a Ni nanotube and a scanning Nb nanoSQUID},
author = {J. Nagel and A. Buchter and F. Xue and O. F. Kieler and T. Weimann and J. Kohlmann and A. B. Zorin and D. Rüffer and E. Russo-Averchi and R. Huber and P. Berberich and A. Fontcuberta i Morral and D. Grundler and R. Kleiner and D. Koelle and M. Poggio and M. Kemmler},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1305.1195},
year = {2013}
}