Surface pinning and grain boundary formation in magnetic flux-line lattices of Bi[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]CaCu[sub 2]O[sub 8+[delta]] high-[ital T][sub [ital c]] superconductors

Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.748· OSTI ID:5143124

Dai, H; Liu, J; Lieber, C M ^[1]

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1. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)

Magnetic decoration has been used to investigate the role of surface pinning on the flux-line lattice (FLL) of high-quality Bi[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]CaCu[sub 2]O[sub 8+[delta]] single crystals. We find that surface steps pin flux lines at the sample surface, and that strong pinning along large steps creates grain boundaries (GBs) in the FLL. Analysis of the competing energetics of pinning versus GB formation leads to a criteria for the formation of extended GBs, and also indicates that these GBs penetrate through the entire sample. Surface pinning, which should occur in all real samples, will thus significantly affect the bulk FLL structure in these materials.

• OSTI ID: 5143124
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 72:5; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665411* -- Basic Superconductivity Studies-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH OXIDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
CRYSTALS
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MONOCRYSTALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM OXIDES
SUPERCONDUCTORS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS