87 research outputs found
The strengthening of reentrant pinning by collective interactions in the peak effect
Since it was first observed about 40 years ago [1], the peak effect has been
the subject of numerous research mainly impelled by the desire to determine its
exact mechanisms. Despite these efforts, a consensus on this question has yet
to be reached. Experimentally, the peak effect indicates a transition from a
depinned vortex phase to a reentrant pinning phase at high magnetic field. To
study the effects of intrinsic pinning on the peak effect, we consider
FeNiZr superconducting metallic glasses in which the vortex
pinning force varies depending on the Fe content and in which a huge peak
effect is seen as a function of magnetic field. The results are mapped out as a
phase diagram in which it is readily seen that the peak effect becomes broader
with decreasing pinning force. Typically, pinning can be understood by
increased pinning centers, but here, we show that reentrant pinning is due to
the strengthening of interactions (while decreasing pinning strength). Our
results demonstrate the strengthening of the peak effect by collective effects.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Superconductivity and short range order in metallic glasses FeNiZr
In amorphous superconductors, superconducting and vortex pinning properties
are strongly linked to the absence of long range order. Consequently,
superconductivity and vortex phases can be studied to probe the underlying
microstructure and order of the material. This is done here from resistance and
local magnetization measurements in the superconducting state of
FeNiZr metallic glasses with . Firstly,
we present typical superconducting properties such as the critical temperature
and fields and their dependence on Fe content in these alloys. Then, the
observations of peculiar clockwise hysteresis loops, wide double-step
transitions and large magnetization fluctuations in glasses containing a large
amount of Fe are analyzed to reveal a change in short range order with Fe
content.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Experimental phase diagram of moving vortices
In the mixed state of type II superconductors, vortices penetrate the sample
and form a correlated system due to the screening of supercurrents around them.
Interestingly, we can study this correlated system as a function of density and
driving force. The density, for instance, is controlled by the magnetic field,
B, whereas a current density j acts as a driving force F=jxB on all vortices.
The free motion of vortices is inhibited by the presence of an underlying
potential, which tends to pin the vortices. Hence, to minimize the pinning
strength we studied a superconducting glass in which the depinning current is
10 to 1000 times smaller than in previous studies, which enables us to map out
the complete phase diagram in this new regime. The diagram is obtained as a
function of B, driving current and temperature and led a remarkable set of new
results, which includes a huge peak effect, an additional reentrant depinning
phase and a driving force induced pinning phase.Comment: 4 page
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