Size driven phase transitions in pinned vortex systems

Abstract

We model a tridimensional vortex system in a sample with square superficial pinning in the top surface and obtain the ground state structures as a function of the sample thickness. Using a simple Frenkel-Kontorova like model and no adjustable parameters, we reproduce the experimental vortex configurations seen in the bottom surface and their range of stability. We find three phases with two transitions between them, including a continuous one from square to distorted hexagonal structure and a discontinuous one from distorted hexagonal to hexagonal structure.

4 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Dynamic Phases of Vortices in Superconductors with Periodic Pinning
• Commensurate and Incommensurate Vortex States in Superconductors with Periodic Pinning Arrays
• Attraction between pancakes vortices in the crossing lattices of layered superconductors
• Transverse depinning and melting of a moving vortex lattice in driven periodic Josephson junction arrays
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Cited by in corpus (3)

• Imaging the structure of the domain wall between symmetries interconnected by a discontinuous transition
• Vortex kinks in superconducting films with periodically modulated thickness
• Brownian dynamics study of driven partially pinned solid in the presence of square array of pinning centers: Enhanced pinning close to the melting transition