Trapped low magnetic field dynamics in YBCO single crystals

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of trapped low magnetic flux in YBCO single crystals near the superconducting transition, revealing differences from high-field relaxation and estimating vortex pinning potentials.

Contribution

It provides new insights into low-field flux dynamics and pinning in YBCO crystals near the transition temperature, expanding understanding beyond high-field regimes.

Findings

Identified differences from quasi-logarithmic relaxation in high fields

Estimated effective pinning potential near transition temperatures

Characterized local flux dynamics in YBCO crystals

Abstract

Trapped low magnetic flux dynamics including local ones are investigated in YBCO single crystals in the strong thermal fluctuations domain near the superconducting phase transition temperatures. The essential difference from quasi-logarithmic isothermal relaxation of a magnetization behavior (observed earlier in high magnetic fields) was established. Within the framework of classic model of a thermal activated vortices creep the estimation of an effective pinning potential was made at these temperatures.