Helical instability of charged vortices in layered superconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electric charge on vortices in layered superconductors can cause a helical instability, potentially leading to a phase transition to a twisted vortex state detectable by various experimental methods.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that vortex charge induces helical instability, proposing a new phase transition in layered superconductors.

Findings

Charged vortices can become helical in layered superconductors.

The helical instability may lead to a phase transition to a twisted vortex state.

Possible experimental detection methods include torque magnetometry and neutron diffraction.

Abstract

It is shown that the electric charge of vortices can result in a helical instability of straight vortex lines in layered superconductors, particularly Bi-based cuprates or organic superconductors. This instability may result in a phase transition to a uniformly twisted vortex state, which could be detected by torque magnetometry, neutron diffraction, electromagnetic or calorimetric measurements.