Critical Current Peaks at $3B_{\Phi}$ in Superconductors with Columnar Defects: Recrystalizing the Interstitial Glass

TL;DR

This paper uses molecular dynamics simulations to explore how vortex behavior in superconductors with columnar defects leads to a peak in critical current at three times the matching field, revealing complex disorder interactions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the non-monotonic critical current dependence on the matching field and highlights the significance of commensurability effects in vortex dynamics with columnar pins.

Findings

Critical current peaks at three times the matching field $B_{\phi}$.

Substantial caging effects influence vortex behavior.

Qualitative differences in phase diagrams for different $B_{\phi}$ values.

Abstract

The role of commensurability and the interplay of correlated disorder and interactions on vortex dynamics in the presence of columnar pins is studied via molecular dynamics simulations. Simulations of dynamics reveal substantial caging effects and a non-monotonic dependence of the critical current with enhancements near integer values of the matching field $B_{\phi}$ and $3B_{\phi}$ in agreement with experiments on the cuprates. We find qualitative differences in the phase diagram for small and large values of the matching field.