Strong rejuvenation in a chiral-glass superconductor

TL;DR

This study investigates the glassy paramagnetic Meissner phase in a Bi-2223 superconductor using magnetometry, revealing memory and rejuvenation effects akin to spin glasses, indicating complex magnetic behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the presence of spin-glass-like memory and rejuvenation effects in a chiral-glass superconductor, expanding understanding of magnetic phases in high-temperature superconductors.

Findings

Memory effects observed during re-heating after specific cooling protocols.

Rejuvenation effects similar to those in Heisenberg spin glasses.

Temperature-dependent magnetization shows complex glassy behavior.

Abstract

The glassy paramagnetic Meissner phase of a Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_x$ superconductor ($x$ = 8.18) is investigated by squid magnetometry, using ``dc-memory'' experiments employed earlier to study spin glasses. The temperature dependence of the zero-field-cooled and thermo-remanent magnetization is recorded on re-heating after specific cooling protocols, in which single or multiple halts are performed at constant temperatures. The 'spin' states equilibrated during the halts are retrieved on re-heating. The observed memory and rejuvenation effects are similar to those observed in Heisenberg-like spin glasses.