Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in the smectic vortex state of a layered superconductor

Journal Article · Mon May 06 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.66.2392· OSTI ID:5591650

Blatter, G; Ivlev, B I; Rhyner, J ^[1]

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1. Theoretische Physik, Eidgenoessiche Technische Hochschule Zuerich-Hoeggerberg, CH-8093 Zuerich, Switzerland (CH) Asea Brown Boveri, Corporate Research, CH-5405 Baden, Switzerland

We investigate the relation between the vortex structure and the dissipation mechanism in strongly layered superconductors when a large magnetic field is applied parallel to the layers. At high enough temperatures the vortex lattice undergoes a transition to a smectic state characterized by a vanishing interlayer shear. The elastic properties of this state lead to novel conditions for Kosterlitz-Thouless-type behavior, resulting in an algebraic current-voltage characteristic down to vanishing current densities.

• OSTI ID: 5591650
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (USA) Vol. 66:18; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360204* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
656100 -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH OXIDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
ELASTICITY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY LOSSES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
KOSTERLITZ-THOULESS THEORY
LAYERS
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SHEAR
STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM OXIDES
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS