Voltage from mechanical stress in type-II superconductors: Depinning of the magnetic flux by moving dislocations

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that mechanical stress-induced dislocation motion in type-II superconductors can generate voltage by depinning vortices, enabling stress sensing through electrical measurements.

Contribution

It reveals how moving dislocations produce currents that depin vortex lattices, linking mechanical stress to electrical voltage in superconductors, a novel sensing mechanism.

Findings

Dislocation motion generates currents that depin vortex lattices.

Critical depinning currents are achievable with practical dislocation densities.

Mechanical stress can produce measurable voltage in superconductors.

Abstract

Mechanical stress causes motion of defects in solids. We show that in a type-II superconductor a moving dislocation generates a pattern of current that exerts the depinning force on the surrounding vortex lattice. Concentration of dislocations and the mechanical stress needed to produce critical depinning currents are shown to be within practical range. When external magnetic field and transport current are present this effect generates voltage across the superconductor. Thus a superconductor can serve as an electrical sensor of the mechanical stress.