Nonequilibrium Phase Transitions of Vortex Matter in Three-Dimensional Layered Superconductors

TL;DR

This study uses large-scale 3D simulations to explore nonequilibrium phase transitions in vortex matter within layered superconductors, revealing a first-order transition and novel dynamical behaviors.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed simulation evidence of a first-order transition from moving Bragg glass to smectic and identifies vortex loop activation as key in dynamical melting.

Findings

First-order transition from moving Bragg glass to smectic confirmed.

Observation of washboard noise in 3D simulations.

Vortex loop activation dominates high-drive dynamical melting.

Abstract

Large-scale simulations on three-dimensional (3D) frustrated anisotropic XY model have been performed to study the nonequilibrium phase transitions of vortex matter in weak random pinning potential in layered superconductors. The first-order phase transition from the moving Bragg glass to the moving smectic is clarified, based on thermodynamic quantities. A washboard noise is observed in the moving Bragg glass in 3D simulations for the first time. It is found that the activation of the vortex loops play the dominant role in the dynamical melting at high drive.