Jamming and diode effects for vortices in Nanostructured Superconductors

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Physica. C, Superconductivity

OSTI ID:970586

Reichhardt, Charles ^[1]; Reichhardt, C J ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory

We examine jamming and ratchet effects for vortex matter in superconductors with asymmetric funnel geometries. We show that the vortex-vortex interactions can induce a clogging or jamming effect where it becomes increasingly difficult for the vortices to move through the system. We also find that commensurability effects can arise when certain vortex configurations form highly symmetrical structures in the funnel plaquettes. Due to the asymmetry, the critical currents are different for driving in different directions, leading to a diode effect. We also discuss other possible geometries that could be used to explore jamming in vortex matter.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 970586
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-09-05955; LA-UR-09-5955; TRN: US201002%%1297
• Journal Information: Physica. C, Superconductivity, Journal Name: Physica. C, Superconductivity; ISSN 0921-4534
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ASYMMETRY
CRITICAL CURRENT
SUPERCONDUCTORS
VORTICES