Vortex pinning in Josephson-junction arrays

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.42.2041· OSTI ID:6228841

Rzchowski, M S; Benz, S P; Tinkham, M; Lobb, C J ^[1]

---

1. Physics Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (USA) Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (USA)

Josephson-junction arrays provide a uniform lattice of vortex pinning sites. We investigate the effect of pinning on vortex motion in this model system through comparisons of numerical simulations with measurements on 1000{times}1000 Nb-Cu-Nb proximity-effect Josephson-junction arrays. The resistive transition is broadened upon application of small magnetic fields near {ital f}=0, where {ital f} is the number of flux quanta per unit cell. We discuss this broadening in terms of thermally activated vortex motion. The resistive transition at {ital f}=1/2 also broadens in the presence of small additional magnetic fields; we attribute this broadening to motion of field-induced defects in the ground-state vortex superlattice. Pinning barriers are found to be field independent for small deviations of the field from both {ital f}=0 and 1/2. We also discuss measurements suggesting defect motion near {ital f}=1/3 and 1/4. The implications of these results for flux-line lattice dissipation in other systems are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6228841
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 42:4; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656100* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COPPER
CRITICAL CURRENT
CURRENTS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELEMENTS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
MAGNETIC FLUX
METALS
NIOBIUM
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PROXIMITY EFFECT
SIMULATION
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS