First order phase transition from the vortex liquid to an amorphous solid

TL;DR

This paper investigates the vortex phase transition in superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 with columnar defects, revealing a new vortex state and showing that the first order liquid-solid transition occurs without symmetry change.

Contribution

It introduces a novel vortex state influenced by geometrical contours and demonstrates that the vortex liquid-solid transition can be first order without structural symmetry change.

Findings

Discovery of a new vortex state due to geometrical contours

First order vortex liquid-solid transition occurs without symmetry change

Influence of columnar defects on vortex topology

Abstract

We present a systematic study of the topology of the vortex solid phase in superconducting Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$ samples with low doses of columnar defects. A new state of vortex matter imposed by the presence of geometrical contours associated with the random distribution of columns is found. The results show that the first order liquid-solid transition in this vortex matter does not require a structural symmetry change.