Absence of a Phase Transition in a Three--Dimensional Vortex Glass Model with Screening

TL;DR

This study investigates the vortex glass transition in a 3D gauge glass model with vortex screening, concluding that screening eliminates the finite-temperature transition previously observed without screening.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how vortex screening affects the existence of a finite-temperature vortex glass transition in three dimensions.

Findings

In 2D, the transition occurs at T=0 with and without screening, but exponents differ.

In 3D, screening removes the finite-temperature transition.

Screening fundamentally alters the phase transition behavior in the model.

Abstract

We study the gauge glass model for the vortex glass transition in type--II superconductors, including screening of the interaction between vortices. {}From the size dependence of the domain wall energy we find that, in two--dimensions, the transition is at $T=0$ both with and without screening but the exponents are different in the two cases. In three-dimensions, we find that screening destroys the finite temperature transition found earlier when screening was neglected.