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This micrograph is of NbSe2, a type II superconductor.
It was taken using a scanning tunneling microscope which allows the
magentic field to be imaged.
Click next to see how the areas of high magnetic field
arise.
Micrograph courtesy of H. F. Hess et al. Bell Labs Phys.
Rev. Lett. 62, 214 (1989)
In type II superconductors the magnetic flux penetrates
the sample in 'bundles' in order to lower the magnetic energy. Persistent
currents flow around these areas which shield the rest of the material
from the magnetic field.