Degradation of Phase Coherence by Defects in a Two-Dimensional Vortex Lattice
arXiv:cond-mat/0105524 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.207001
Abstract
The thermodynamic nature of two-dimensional vortex matter is studied theoretically through a duality analysis of the XY model over the square lattice with low uniform frustration. A phase-coherent vortex lattice state is found at low temperature if rigid translations are prohibited. It shows a non-zero phase rigidity that is degraded exclusively by the creation of dislocation pairs. The unbinding of such pairs causes the vortex lattice to simultaneously lose phase coherence and to melt at a continuous (Kosterlitz-Thouless) phase transition. General phase auto-correlation functions are also computed, and these results are used to argue for the existence of a continuous melting transition of vortex matter in layered superconductors.
11 pgs. of PLAIN TeX, to appear in PRL, some improvements
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- Macroscopic Phase Coherence of Defective Vortex Lattices in Two Dimensions
- Sublimated Decoupling of the Vortex Lattice in Extremely Type-II Layered Superconductors
- Collective pinning of the vortex lattice by columnar defects in layered superconductors
- Optimum pinning of the vortex lattice in extremely type-II layered superconductors
- Long-Range Order of Vortex Lattices Pinned by Point Defects in Layered Superconductors
- Defective Vortex Lattices in Layered Superconductors with Both Point and Correlated Pins