Flux-line cutting in type II superconductors
Experimental evidence for flux-line cutting in superconductors (intersection and cross-joining of singly quantized vortices) is briefly reviewed. The interaction energy between two straight vortices tilted at an angle ..cap alpha.. (not =0) is then shown to be finite in the London model, i.e., in the limit of vanishing core radius. Next, the activation energy and maximum interaction force are calculated for the vortices in an analytic approximation to the Ginzburg--Landau theory. Here two competing interactions determine the behavior. Electromagnetic repulsion (0<..cap alpha..<..pi../2) varies as cos ..cap alpha.. and decays over distances scaled by the penetration depth lambda, while core attraction is independent of ..cap alpha.. and varies over distances scaled by the coherence lenght xi. The force is always repulsive at large flux-line separation (0<..cap alpha..<..pi../2) and its maximum decreases rapidly as kappa decreases, so that flux-line cutting is expected to be more probable in low-kappa materials. The calculations provide a basis for explaining longitudinal flux-flow resistance as well as some intriguing magnetization behavior in the same configuration.
- Research Organization:
- Ames Laboratory: USDOE and Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
- OSTI ID:
- 5752006
- Journal Information:
- J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 37:1; ISSN JLTPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
EQUATIONS
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
LONDON EQUATION
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIZATION
MIXED STATE
PENETRATION DEPTH
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TYPE-II SUPERCONDUCTORS