Vortex-induced strain and magnetization in type-II superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores how vortex-induced stress in type-II superconductors affects their magnetization, potentially explaining the second peak phenomenon in magnetization curves.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework linking vortex core stress to measurable magnetization effects, highlighting a possible origin of the second peak.

Findings

Vortex core stress influences the free energy and magnetization.

Stress dependence of T_c can cause the second peak in magnetization.

The effect may be observable despite vortex pinning and creep.

Abstract

It is argued that the stress caused by vortex cores in the mixed state of superconductors may result in a field dependent contribution to the free energy and magnetization of measurable levels. For sufficiently strong stress dependence of the critical temperature, $\partial T_c/\partial p$, this contribution may result in the so-called "second peak" in the field dependence of the reversible magnetization, the effect often masked by vortex pinning and creep.