In this study, researchers demonstrate the superconducting diode effect in conventional superconducting thin films, such as niobium and vanadium, using external magnetic fields as small as 1 Oe. They also achieve a nonvolatile superconducting diode effect by interfacing the superconducting layer with a ferromagnetic semiconductor. Through control experiments and theoretical modeling, they show that the nonreciprocity of critical supercurrents in superconducting thin films can be easily accomplished by asymmetrical vortex edge and surface barriers, as well as the universal Meissner screening current. The researchers highlight the potential for novel technologies and emphasize the need to understand and eliminate the Meissner screening effect in the search for exotic superconducting states.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.027001