Exploring metastability via the third harmonic measurements in single crystals of $2H$-$NbS{e}_2$ showing anomalous Peak effect

Abstract

We explore the metastability effects across the order-disorder transition pertaining to the peak effect phenomenonon in critical current density ($J_c$) via the first and the third harmonic ac susceptibility measurements in the weakly pinned single crystals of $2H$-$NbS{e}_2$. An analysis of our data suggests that an imprint of the limiting (spinodal) temperature above which $J_c$ is path independent can be conveniently located in the third harmonic data (${\chi }_{3\omega }^{\prime }$).

Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B