Vortex matter in mesoscopic superconductors

Superconducting mesoscopic devices in magnetic fields present novel propert ies which can only be accounted for by both the quantum confinement of the Cooper pairs and by the interaction between the magnetic-field-induced vort ices. Sub-micrometer disks, much the same as their semiconductor counterpar ts known as quantum dots, are being subject to experimental investigation b y measuring their conducting properties and, more recently, their magnetiza tion by using state-of-the-art ballistic Hall magnetometry. In this work I review the main results obtained in these two types of experiments as well as the current theoretical developments which are contributing to our under standing of the superconducting condensate in these systems. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.