Vinen’s vibrating wire experiment detected quantized vortices in superfluid 4He, with the anticipated circulation quantum h/m. In addition to this main result, Vinen used his data to propose other properties and behaviors of vortices, which are revisited here. Subsequent work confirmed that non-quantized values occur when vortices cover only part of the wire’s length and that the size of the covered section can change easily. Any motion of the detached portion of the vortex induces changes in the circulation around the wire, which provides a means of tracking the free vortex. Particularly distinctive signatures correspond to a circular motion of the vortex through the cell and to Kelvin waves along the free vortex. Another issue, the lack of stability of multi-quantum states, can also be explained through simple arguments, in which the possibility of a partially detached vortex again plays a key role. Vibrating wire measurements descended from Vinen’s continue to probe superfluid flows.

We report the results of high-pressure X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption, and electrical transport measurements of the Kondo insulator (KI) Ce3Bi4Pt3 up to 42 GPa, the highest pressure reached in the study of any Ce-based KI. We observe a smooth decrease in volume and movement toward intermediate Ce valence with pressure, both of which point to increased electron correlations. Despite this, temperature-dependent resistance data show the suppression of the interaction-driven ambient pressure insulating ground state. We also discuss potential ramifications of these results for the predicted topological KI state.

Solid-state ionic approaches for modifying ion distributions in getter/oxide heterostructures offer exciting potentials to control material properties. Here, we report a simple, scalable approach allowing for manipulation of the superconducting transition in optimally doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) films via a chemically driven ionic migration mechanism. Using a thin Gd capping layer of up to 20 nm deposited onto 100 nm thick epitaxial YBCO films, oxygen is found to leach from deep within the YBCO. Progressive reduction of the superconducting transition is observed, with complete suppression possible for a sufficiently thick Gd layer. These effects arise from the combined impact of redox-driven electron doping and modification of the YBCO microstructure due to oxygen migration and depletion. This work demonstrates an effective step toward total ionic tuning of superconductivity in oxides, an interface-induced effect that goes well into the quasi-bulk regime, opening-up possibilities for electric field manipulation.