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Title: Effect of flux avalanches on activation energy in type-II superconductors: Evidence for self-organized criticality

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

The behavior of thermally activated flux avalanches is studied for both high-[ital T][sub [ital c]] superconductors (single crystals of Bi[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]CaCu[sub 2]O[sub [ital x]] and YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub [ital x]]) and a conventional type-II superconductor (Nb[sub 3]Sn multifilamentary wire). By combining two different mechanisms, namely, thermally activated and avalanche flux motion, we have developed a [ital U]([ital j]) relationship in a large regime of driving force for type-II superconductors. As a result of flux avalanches, the flux-motion activation energy is considerably reduced. We have found a dynamic crossover at which the flux-motion characteristic changes from spatially and temporally correlated flux avalanches to slow creep.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6073260
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Vol. 48:6; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English