Vortex–antivortex annihilation in mesoscopic superconductors with a central pinning center

Highlights: • The time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations was solved for mesoscopic superconductors with k = 5. • The systems were squares with an antidot in the center. • The dynamics of the annihilation of a vortex–antivortex pair was studied. - Abstract: In this work we solved the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations, TDGL, to simulate two superconducting systems with different lateral sizes and with an antidot inserted in the center. Then, by cycling the external magnetic field, the creation and annihilation dynamics of a vortex–antivortex pair was studied as well as the range of temperatures for which such processes could occur. We verified that in the annihilation process both vortex and antivortex acquire an elongated format while an accelerated motion takes place