Elasticity-driven attraction between Abrikosov vortices in high-$\kappa$ superconductors: Leading role of a non-core contribution

TL;DR

This paper reveals a previously overlooked non-core strain-induced attraction between Abrikosov vortices in high-$7$ superconductors, which significantly influences vortex lattice orientation and thermal transition anomalies.

Contribution

It identifies and quantifies a non-core contribution to vortex attraction, emphasizing its importance over core interactions in high-$7$ superconductors.

Findings

Non-core contribution exceeds core interaction by a factor of  7^2.

Non-core effects influence vortex lattice orientation.

Non-core effects impact thermal anomalies at superconducting transitions.

Abstract

We show that the strain-induced attraction between Abrikosov vortices has a non-core contribution overlooked up until now. This contribution is an example of the universal mechanism of soliton attraction in solids revealed in [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 66}, 14111 (2002)]. The resulting interaction energy is larger than that due to the vortex cores at least by a factor $\ln ^2 \kappa$. Consequently, the non-core contribution must be included, for instance, in discussions about the orientation of vortex lattices with respect to the crystal axes. It is shown to be also important when interpreting the thermal anomalies of the transition between superconducting and mixed states.