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The loss of vortex line tension sets an upper limit to the irreversibility line in YBa2Cu3O7

Nature Physics volume 2, pages 402–407 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

In high-temperature superconductors, magnetic field lines penetrate the samples through vortices arranged in an Abrikosov vortex lattice. In a magnetic field Hm(T ) below the upper critical field Hc2(T ) that destroys bulk superconductivity, the vortex lattice melts to a liquid vortex state, in which each vortex line must be ‘pinned’ individually to prevent dissipation. Linear and planar defects have been found to be effective for pinning the vortex liquid because they trap an entire vortex within a single extended defect. However, up to now it is not known how far into the liquid state this pinning process can be effective. Here, we show that there is a universal magnetic field line Hl(T ) between Hm(T ) and Hc2(T ), where thermodynamic fluctuations of the order parameter can cause vortex unpinning from extended defects. This magnetic field Hl(T ) sets an upper limit to the irreversibility line Hirr(T ) marking the onset of dissipation. For that reason it determines a new magnetic-field–temperature region in which a superconductor can remain useful.

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Figure 1: Angular dependence of the magnetoresistance.
Figure 2: Flux transformer experiments for a twinned YBCO crystal.
Figure 3: Angular-dependent magnetic phase diagram of a twinned YBCO crystal at H=3 T when the magnetic field rotates from H ∥c to H ∥a b.
Figure 4: In-plane defects and their influence on the magnetic phase diagram.
Figure 5: Magnetic phase diagram for H ∥c for the different vortex states observed in twinned and ion-irradiated YBCO single crystals.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge financial support from MCYT (MAT2002-02642 and MAT2003-01584), Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Pla de Recerca 000206 and CeRMAE) and EU network SCENET. The contribution of J. Plain to the obtention of the transmission electron micrograph and fruitful discussions with F. de la Cruz are acknowledged. J.F. acknowledges Generalitat de Catalunya for a PhD fellowship. The work at Argonne National Laboratory was supported by the US Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38. G.D. wishes to acknowledge the partial support of the ISF, of the Minerva Center for High Temperature Superconductivity, and of the Oren Family Chair for Experimental Solid State Physics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona, C.S.I.C., Campus U.A. Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain

    J. Figueras, T. Puig & X. Obradors

  2. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, Illinois, 60439, USA

    W. K. Kwok, L. Paulius & G. W. Crabtree

  3. Department of Physics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49008, USA

    L. Paulius

  4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

    G. Deutscher

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Correspondence to X. Obradors.

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Figueras, J., Puig, T., Obradors, X. et al. The loss of vortex line tension sets an upper limit to the irreversibility line in YBa2Cu3O7. Nature Phys 2, 402–407 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys311

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