Dynamical Phase Transition in a Driven Disordered Vortex Lattice

TL;DR

This paper uses Langevin dynamics simulations to reveal a dynamical phase transition in a driven disordered vortex lattice, showing a switch from plastic flow to a hexatic glass, aligning with experimental observations.

Contribution

It provides the first direct numerical evidence of a dynamical phase transition in a driven disordered vortex system, linking theory with recent experimental data.

Findings

Identification of a transition between plastic flow and hexatic glass

Simulation results match experimental current-voltage data

Evidence of a dynamical phase transition in vortex matter

Abstract

Using Langevin dynamics, we have investigated the dynamics of vortices in a disordered two dimensional superconductor subjected to a uniform driving current. The results provide direct numerical evidence for a dynamical phase transition between a plastic flow regime and a moving ``hexatic glass." The simulated current-voltage characteristics are in excellent agreement with recent transport measurements on amorphous ${\rm Mo_{77}Ge_{23}}$ thin film superconductors.