  Quantitative magneto-optical imaging of a type-II superconductor thin film
cooled under zero, homogeneous, and inhomogeneous applied magnetic fields,
indicates that the latter procedure leads to an enhancement of the screening
capacity. Such an observation is corroborated by both B-independent and
B-dependent critical state model analyses. Furthermore, repulsive (attractive)
vortex-(anti)vortex interactions were found to have a decisive role in the
shielding ability, with initial states prepared with vortices resulting in a
shorter magnetic flux front penetration depth than those prepared with
antivortices. The proposed strategy could be implemented to boost the
performance of thin superconducting devices.
