Persistence of metastable vortex lattice domains in MgB2 in the presence of vortex motion

C. Rastovski, K. J. Schlesinger, W. J. Gannon, C. D. Dewhurst, L. Debeer-Schmitt, N. D. Zhigadlo, J. Karpinski, M. R. Eskildsen

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11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently, extensive vortex lattice metastability was reported in MgB 2 in connection with a second-order rotational phase transition. However, the mechanism responsible for these well-ordered metastable vortex lattice phases is not well understood. Using small-angle neutron scattering, we studied the vortex lattice in MgB2 as it was driven from a metastable to the ground state through a series of small changes in the applied magnetic field. Our results show that metastable vortex lattice domains persist in the presence of substantial vortex motion and directly demonstrate that the metastability is not due to vortex pinning. Instead, we propose that it is due to the jamming of counterrotated vortex lattice domains which prevents a rotation to the ground state orientation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number107002
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume111
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 4 2013

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation1062819

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