Superconducting vortices and artificial pinning

The distribution and microscopic properties of pinning centers can qualitatively influence the thermodynamic and vortex transport properties of the superconducting sample. For example, one of the most important characteristics of a type-II superconductor, the value of the critical current, is determined by the balance of Lorentz forces and pinning forces acting on the flux lines. The Lorentz force is proportional to the transport current, and tends to drive the flux lines into motion, leading to the dissipation of energy and destroying the zero resistance state. Pinning forces created by isolated defects in the material oppose the motion of the flux lines and increase the critical current. Many kinds of artificial pinning centers have been proposed and developed to increase the critical current, ranging from the dispersal of small non-superconducting second phases to creation of defects by proton, neutron, or heavy ion irradiation. In all of these methods, the pinning centers are randomly distributed over the superconducting material, causing them to operate well below their maximum efficiency. A novel approach to the problem came with advances in lithography, which allowed for regular structuring and modulation of the sample properties over a large surface area. Long-range correlation in the position of the pinning centers resulted in the interplay between the length scales characterizing the pin lattice and the vortex lattice. These commensuration effects lead to a rich structure in the field dependence of the critical current, and a wide variety of new dynamical states.

Papers:

1. Spontaneous transverse voltage and amplified switching in superconductors with honeycomb pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   Phys. Rev. Lett 100 167002 (2008).
   Online version

2. Commensurability effects and nonmatching fields for vortices in diluted periodic pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   Phys. Rev. B 76 094512 (2007).
   Online version

3. Vortex molecular crystal and vortex plastic crystal states in honeycomb and kagome pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   Phys. Rev. B 76 064523 (2007).
   Online version

4. Vortex configurations and dynamics in elliptical pinning sites for high matching fields
   C.J. Olson Reichhardt, A. Libal and C. Reichhardt
   Phys. Rev. B 73 184519 (2006).
   Online version

5. Transverse phase locking for vortex motion in square and triangular pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson
   Phys. Rev. B 65, 174523 (2002).
   Online version

6. Vortex pinball under crossed ac drives in superconductors with periodic pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson
   Phys. Rev. B 65, 100501(R) (2002).
   Online version

7. Complex dynamical flow phases and pinning in superconductors with rectangular pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt, G.T. Zimanyi, and N. Gronbech-Jensen
   Phys. Rev. B 64, 014501 (2001).
   Online version

8. Collective interaction-driven ratchet for transporting flux quanta
   C.J. Olson, C. Reichhardt, B. Janko, and F. Nori
   Phys. Rev. Lett 87, 177002 (2001).
   Online version

9. Commensurate and incommensurate vortex lattice melting in periodic pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt, C.J. Olson, R.T. Scalettar, and G.T. Zimanyi
   Phys. Rev. B 64, 144509 (2001).
   Online version

10. Phase-locking of driven vortex lattices with transverse ac force and periodic pinning
    C. Reichhardt, A.B. Kolton, D. Dominguez, and N. Gronbech-Jensen
    Phys. Rev. B 64, 134508 (2001).
    Online version

11. Individual and multiple vortex pinning in systems with periodic pinning arrays
    C. Reichhardt, G.T. Zimanyi, R.T. Scalettar, A. Hoffmann, and I.K. Schuller
    Phys. Rev. B 64, 052503 (2001).
    Online version

12. Critical currents and vortex states at fractional matching fields in superconductors with periodic pinning
    C. Reichhardt and N. Gronbech-Jensen
    Phys. Rev. B 63, 054510 (2001).
    Online version

13. Collective multivortex states in periodic arrays of traps
    C. Reichhardt and N. Gronbech-Jensen
    Phys. Rev. Lett 85, 2372 (2000).
    Online version

14. Melting of moving vortex lattices in systems with periodic pinning
    C. Reichhardt and G.T. Zimanyi
    Phys. Rev. B 59, 14354 (2000).
    Online version

15. Phase-locking of vortex lattices interacting with periodic pinning
    C. Reichhardt, R.T. Scalettar, G.T. Zimanyi, and N. Gronbech-Jensen
    Phys. Rev. B 61, R11914 (2000).
    Online version

16. Superconducting fluxon pumps and lenses
    J.F. Wambaugh, C. Reichhardt, C.J. Olson, F. Marchesoni, and F. Nori
    Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 5106 (1999).
    Online version

17. Nonequilibrium dynamic phases and plastic flow of driven vortex lattices in superconductors with periodic arrays of pinning sites
    C. Reichhardt, C.J. Olson, and F. Nori
    Phys. Rev. B 58, 6534 (1998).
    Online version

18. Commensurate and incommensurate vortex states in superconductors with periodic pinning arrays
    C. Reichhardt, C.J. Olson, and F. Nori
    Phys. Rev. B 57, 7937 (1998).
    Online version

19. Dynamic phases of vortices in superconductors with periodic pinning
    C. Reichhardt, C.J. Olson, and F. Nori
    Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 2648 (1997).
    Online version

20. Spatiotemporal dynamics and plastic flow in superconductors with periodic arrays of pinning sites
    C. Reichhardt, J. Groth, C.J. Olson, S.B. Field, and F. Nori
    Phys. Rev. B 54, 16 108 (1996).
    Online version

21. Vortex plastic flow, local flux density, magnetization hysteresis loops, and critical current, deep in the Bose-glass and Mott-insulator regimes
    C. Reichhardt, C.J. Olson, J. Groth, S. Field, and F. Nori
    Phys. Rev. B 53, R8898 (1996).
    Online version

Related Papers:

1. Effect of splayed pins on vortex creep and critical currents
   C.J. Olson, R.T. Scalettar, G.T. Zimanyi, and N. Gronbech-Jensen
   Phys. Rev. B 62, R3612 (2000).
   Online version

   Collaborators

   Gergely Zimanyi UC Davis

   Richard Scalettar UC Davis

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Last Modified: 7/3/02