Observation of vortex coalescence, vortex chains and crossing vortices in the anisotropic spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4

When the applied field is closely in-plane, the vortex form flux channels confined between the crystal-layers. Residual Abrikosov vortices are pinned preferentially on these channels. Thus the in-plane vortices are decorated by crossing Abrikosov vortices: two vortex orientations are apparent simultaneously, one along the layers and the other perpendicular to the layers.