Superheating fields of superconductors: Asymptotic analysis and numerical results

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.53.5650· OSTI ID:279091

Dolgert, A J; Di Bartolo, S J; Dorsey, A T ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 (United States)

The superheated Meissner state in type-I superconductors is studied both analytically and numerically within the framework of Ginzburg-Landau theory. Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions we have developed a systematic expansion for the solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equations in the limit of small {kappa}, and have determined the maximum superheating field {ital H}{sub sh} for the existence of the metastable, superheated Meissner state as an expansion in powers of {kappa}{sup 1/2}. Our numerical solutions of these equations agree quite well with the asymptotic solutions for {kappa}{lt}0.5. The same asymptotic methods are also used to study the stability of the solutions, as well as a modified version of the Ginzburg-Landau equations which incorporates nonlocal electrodynamics. Finally, we compare our numerical results for the superheating field for large {kappa} against recent asymptotic results for large {kappa}, and again find a close agreement. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the method of matched asymptotic expansions for dealing with problems in inhomogeneous superconductivity involving boundary layers. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 279091
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 53; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMDO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
FLUCTUATIONS
FREE ENERGY
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
MEISSNER-OCHSENFELD EFFECT
MIXED STATE
ORDER PARAMETERS
PENETRATION DEPTH
PHASE STUDIES
SUPERHEATING
THERMODYNAMIC ACTIVITY
TYPE-I SUPERCONDUCTORS