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 response and amplified switching in superconductors with honeycomb pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   arxiv:0709.2157
   Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 167002 (2008).
   

2. Origin of the reversed vortex ratchet motion
   W. Gillijns, A.V. Silhanek, V.V. Moshchalkov, C.J. Olson Reichhardt, and C. Reichhardt
   arXiv:0711.0640
   Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 247002 (2007).
   

3. Commensurability effects at nonmatching fields for vortices in diluted periodic pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   cond-mat/0611714
   Phys. Rev. B 76, 094512 (2007).
   

4. Vortex molecular crystal and vortex plastic crystal states in honeycomb and kagome pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   arXiv:0704.0828
   Phys. Rev. B 76, 064523 (2007).
   

5. Reversible vortex ratchet effects and ordering in superconductors with simple asymmetric potential arrays
   Qiming Lu, C.J. Olson Reichhardt, and C. Reichhardt
   cond-mat/0609560
   Phys. Rev. B 75, 054502 (2007).
   

6. Vortex configurations and dynamics in elliptical pinning sites for high matching fields
   C.J. Olson Reichhardt, A. Libal, and C. Reichhardt
   cond-mat/0601008
   Phys. Rev. B 73, 184519 (2006).
   

7. Rectification and flux reversals for vortices interacting with triangular traps
   C.J. Olson Reichhardt and C. Reichhardt
   cond-mat/0401016
   Physica C 432, 125 (2005).
   

8. Ratchet effects for vortices in superconductors with periodic pinning arrays
   C. Reichhardt and C.J. Olson Reichhardt
   Physica C 404, 302 (2004).
   Online version
   

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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Last Modified: 7/14/02