No Arabic abstract
We report an angle-dependent study of the magnetic torque $tau(theta)$ within the vortex state of single-crystalline LaO$_{0.9}$F$_{0.1}$FeAs and SmO$_{0.9}$F$_{0.1}$FeAs as a function of both temperature $T$ and magnetic field $H$. Sharp peaks are observed at a critical angle $theta_c$ at either side of $theta=90^{circ}$, where $theta$ is the angle between $H$ and the inter-planar emph{c}-axis. $theta_c$ is interpreted as the critical depinning angle where the vortex lattice, pinned and locked by the intrinsic planar structure, unlocks and acquires a component perpendicular to the planes. We observe a series of smaller replica peaks as a function of $theta$ and as $theta$ is swept away from the planar direction. These suggest commensurability effects between the period of the vortex lattice and the inter-planar distance leading to additional kinked vortex configurations.
The Fe-based superconductors (FBS) present a large variety of compounds whose properties are affected to different extents by their crystal structures. Amongst them, the $it{RE}$FeAs(O,F) ($it{RE}$1111, where $it{RE}$ is a rare earth element) is the family with the highest critical temperature $T_c$ but also with a large anisotropy and Josephson vortices as demonstrated in the flux-flow regime in Sm1111 ($T_c$ $sim$ 55 K). Here we focus our attention on the pinning properties of the lower-$T_c$ Nd1111 in the flux-creep regime. We demonstrate that for H//c critical current density $J_c$ at high temperatures is dominated by point-defect pinning centres, whereas at low temperatures surface pinning by planar defects parallel to the $it{c}$-axis and vortex shearing prevail. When the field approaches the $it{ab}$-planes, two different regimes are observed at low temperatures as a consequence of the transition between 3D-Abrikosov and 2D-Josephson vortices: one is determined by the formation of a vortex staircase structure and one by lock-in of the vortices parallel to the layers. This is the first study on FBS showing this behaviour in a full temperature, field, and angular range and it demonstrates that, despite the lower $T_c$ and anisotropy of Nd1111 with respect to Sm1111, this compound is substantially affected by intrinsic pinning generating a strong $it{ab}$-peak in $J_c$.
Measurements of magneto-resistivity and magnetic susceptibility were performed on single crystals of superconducting Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ close to the conditions of optimal doping. The high quality of the investigated samples allows us to reveal a dynamic scaling behaviour associated with a vortex-glass phase transition in the limit of weak degree of quenched disorder. Accordingly, the dissipative component of the ac susceptibility is well reproduced within the framework of Havriliak-Negami relaxation, assuming a critical power-law divergence for the characteristic correlation time $tau$ of the vortex dynamics. Remarkably, the random disorder introduced by the Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$ chemical substitution is found to act on the vortices as a much weaker quenched disorder than previously reported for cuprate superconductors such as, e.g., Y$_{1-x}$Pr$_{x}$Ba$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-delta}$.
We report on dynamics of non-local Abrikosov vortex flow in mesoscopic superconducting Nb channels. Magnetic field dependence of the non-local voltage induced by the flux flow shows that vortices form ordered vortex chains. Voltage asymmetry (rectification) with respect to the direction of vortex flow is evidence that vortex jamming strongly moderates vortex dynamics in mesoscopic geometries. The findings can be applied to superconducting devices exploiting vortex dynamics and vortex manipulation, including superconducting wires with engineered pinning centers.
Magnetotransport theory of layered superconductors in the flux flow steady state is revisited. Longstanding controversies concerning observed Hall sign reversals are resolved. The conductivity separates into a Bardeen-Stephen vortex core contribution, and a Hall conductivity due to moving vortex charge. This charge, which is responsible for Hall anomaly, diverges logarithmically at weak magnetic field. Its values can be extracted from magetoresistivity data by extrapolation of vortex core Hall angle from the normal phase. Hall anomalies in YBCO, BSCCO, and NCCO data are consistent with theoretical estimates based on doping dependence of London penetration depths. In the appendices, we derive the Streda formula for the hydrodynamical Hall conductivity, and refute previously assumed relevance of Galilean symmetry to Hall anomalies.
We study geometrical confinement effects in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8 +delta}$ mesoscopic vortex-matter with edge-to-surface ratio of $7-12$%. Samples have in-plane square and circular edges, 30,$mu$m widths, and $sim 2,mu$m thickness. Direct vortex imaging reveals the compact planes of the structure align with the sample edge by introducing topological defects. The defects density is larger for circular than for square edges. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest this density is not an out-of-equilibrium property but rather determined by the geometrical confinement.