Flux lattice melting in high- T sub c superconductors

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.40.6763· OSTI ID:5469525

Houghton, A; Pelcovits, R A; Sudbo, A ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912 (US)

We derive the wave-vector-dependent elastic moduli for a flux line lattice in compounds with underlying tetragonal crystalline symmetry. We find that it is essential to retain wave-vector dependence of the moduli when dealing with compounds where {kappa} is large, as it is in the high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} materials. We use our results to establish a Lindemann criterion for flux lattice melting, which we then compare with experimental data on two materials, and find excellent agreement. The melting curves are suppressed well below the mean-field superconducting-normal transition line and are linear in temperature over a wide range of magnetic fields. The point {ital H}=0, {ital T}={ital T}{sub {ital c}} is approached as 1{minus}{ital T}/{ital T}{sub {ital c}}{similar to}H{sup 1/2}. The degree of suppression of the melting curves among the different compounds is accounted for in the main by differences in mass anisotropy.

• OSTI ID: 5469525
• Journal Information: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 40:10; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656100* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CRITICAL CURRENT
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
FLUCTUATIONS
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
MAGNETIC FLUX
MEAN-FIELD THEORY
MELTING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TETRAGONAL LATTICES
VARIATIONS