Evidence for vortex staircases in the whole angular range due to competing correlated pinning mechanisms

Abstract

We analyze the angular dependence of the irreversible magnetization of YBa${}_2$Cu${}_3$O${}_7$ crystals with columnar defects inclined from the c-axis. At high fields a sharp maximum centered at the tracks' direction is observed. At low fields we identify a lock-in phase characterized by an angle-independent pinning strength and observe an angular shift of the peak towards the c-axis that originates in the material anisotropy. The interplay among columnar defects, twins and ab-planes generates a variety of staircase structures. We show that correlated pinning dominates for all field orientations.

arXiv comment9 figures, 4 figures

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