Boson localization and correlated pinning of superconducting vortex arrays

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.48.13060· OSTI ID:5990698

Nelson, D R ^[1]; Vinokur, V M ^[2]

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1. Lyman Laboratory of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)
2. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

A theory of vortex pinning in high-temperature superconductors by correlated disorder in the form of twin boundaries, grain boundaries, and columnar defects is described. Mapping vortex trajectories onto boson world lines leads to a superfluid'' flux liquid at high temperatures, as well as low-temperature Bose-glass'' and Mott-insulator'' phases, in which the flux lines are localized. Currents perpendicular to the average vortex direction act like an electric field applied to charged bosons, while currents parallel to the field act like an imaginary magnetic field in this approach. We discuss the equilibrium and dynamic properties of these phases, and propose a scaling theory for the flux-liquid to Bose-glass transition, at which the linear resistivity vanishes. Although the Bose-glass predictions share some features with vortex-glass behavior predicted for point disorder, the response to tilting the magnetic field in the two cases differs dramatically, thus allowing the two theories to be distinguished experimentally.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5990698
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 48:17; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665411* -- Basic Superconductivity Studies-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BOSONS
CORRELATIONS
GLASS
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SCALING
SUPERCONDUCTORS
SUPERFLUIDITY
TWINNING
VORTICES