Second magnetization peak in flux lattices: the decoupling scenario

TL;DR

This paper explains the second magnetization peak in layered superconductors as a disorder-induced layer decoupling transition, affecting critical current, domain size, and plasma frequency, with implications for understanding vortex matter behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a disorder-induced decoupling scenario to explain the second peak phenomena in flux lattices of layered superconductors, linking disorder effects to observable electromagnetic properties.

Findings

Disorder causes a layer decoupling transition in flux lattices.

Critical current is enhanced in the decoupled phase.

Josephson plasma frequency decreases due to decoupling and pinning.

Abstract

The second peak phenomena of flux lattices in layered superconductors is described in terms of a disorder induced layer decoupling transition. For weak disorder the tilt mudulus undergoes an apparent discontinuity which leads to an enhanced critical current and reduced domain size in the decoupled phase. The Josephson plasma frequency is reduced by decoupling and by Josephson glass pinning; in the liquid phase it varies as 1/[BT(T+T_0)] where T is temperature, B is field and T_0 is the disorder dependent temperature of the multicritical point.