American Institute of Physics, Applied Physics Letters, 3(95), p. 032501
DOI: 10.1063/1.3180492
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We have designed and characterized a magnetic template which can be switched between chains of parallel and antiparallel field distribution by applying an in-plane magnetic field. The parallel field profile creates highly mobile vortex channels in a superconducting film deposited on top, reproducing the behavior of a weak link as evidenced by the presence of Shapiro steps in the current-voltage characteristics under rf excitation. The Josephson coupling can be fully suppressed by changing the field distribution to the antiparallel state. As a result, a reversible ON/OFF switch for magnetically induced weak links has been demonstrated.