Density functional theory for freezing transition of vortex-line liquid with periodic layer pinning

Abstract

By the density functional theory for crystallization, it is shown that for vortex lines in an underlying layered structure a smectic phase with period m=2 can be stabilized by strong layer pinning. The freezing of vortex liquid is then two-step, a second-order liquid-smectic transition and a first-order smectic-lattice transition. DFT also indicates that a direct, first-order liquid-lattice transition preempts the smectic order with m>2 irrespectively of the pinning strength. Possible H-T phase diagrams are mapped out. Implications of the DFT results to the interlayer Josephson vortex system in high-Tc cuprates are given.

4 pages, 5 figures, references added

References in corpus (10)

• Quantum Smectic and Supersolid Order in Helium Films and Vortex Arrays
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Cited by in corpus (5)

• The Ginzburg-Landau Theory of Type II superconductors in magnetic field
• Josephson vortex lattice in layered superconductors
• Energy landscape and shear modulus of interlayer Josephson vortex systems
• Flux-lattice melting in LaO${}_{1-x}$F${}_x$FeAs: first-principles prediction
• Freezing of a soft-core fluid in a one-dimensional potential: Appearance of a locked smectic phase