Local mapping of dissipative vortex motion

We have recently introduced an experimental technique which combines the spatial resolution of scanning Hall microscopy and sensitivity of ac-susceptibility measurements as a tool to probe the vortex dynamics in superconducting materials. This technique has proven to be particularly adequate to prospect the degree of mobility of each individual vortex, map the pinning landscape, visualize the intra-valley to inter-valley vortex hopping, and reveal the different mobility of vortices and antivortices created by magnetic dots. Furthermore, we have shown that using the phase sensitive character of the local ac-susceptibility technique it is possible to investigate the dissipative response of a single vortex. This technique opens new and exciting possibilities to locally study loss mechanisms in a variety of interesting magnetic systems such as magnetic domain walls.