Pinning in nonmagnetic borocarbides

TL;DR

This paper investigates the pinning behavior in nonmagnetic borocarbides by measuring the Labush parameter, revealing a giant peak effect and significantly higher critical current estimates than traditional methods.

Contribution

It introduces a novel measurement method for the Labush parameter that does not require reaching a critical state, providing more accurate critical current estimates.

Findings

Labush parameter measurements show a giant peak effect in Y-based borocarbides.

Estimated critical currents are two orders of magnitude higher than transport measurements.

The collective pinning model quantitatively explains the observed peak effect.

Abstract

The field dependences of the Labush parameter in nonmagnetic borocarbides are measured by a method that does not require achieving a critical state. The expected values of the critical current are estimated. The values obtained are two order of magnitude greater than the results of "direct" measurements performed on the basis of transport (magnetic) experiments. A giant peak effect, which the collective pinning model describes quantitavely well, is observed in the field dependences of the Labush parameter in Y-based borocarbides.