Ultrafast dynamics of fluctuations in high-temperature superconductors far from equilibrium.

Despite extensive work on high-temperature superconductors, the critical behavior of an incipient condensate has so far been studied exclusively under equilibrium conditions. Here, we excite Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+δ) with a femtosecond laser pulse and monitor the subsequent nonequilibrium dynamics of the midinfrared conductivity. Our data allow us to discriminate temperature regimes where superconductivity is either coherent, fluctuating or vanishingly small. Above the transition temperature T(c), we make the striking observation that the relaxation to equilibrium exhibits power-law dynamics and scaling behavior, both for optimally and underdoped superconductors. Our findings can in part be modeled using time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, and they provide strong indication of universality in systems far from equilibrium.

First-order transition in the magnetic vortex matter in superconducting MgB2 tuned by disorder.

The field-driven transition from an ordered Bragg glass to a disordered vortex phase in single-crystalline MgB2 is tuned by an increasing density of point defects, introduced by electron irradiation. The discontinuity observed in magnetization attests to the first-order nature of the transition. The temperature and defect density dependences of the transition field point to vortex pinning mediated by fluctuations in the quasiparticle mean free path, and reveal the mechanism of the transition in the absence of complicating factors such as layeredness or thermal fluctuations.

SANS study of vortex lattice structural transition in optimally doped (Ba1-x K x )Fe2As2.

Small-angle neutron scattering on high quality single crystalline Ba1-x K x Fe2As2 reveals the transition from a low-field vortex solid phase with orientational order to a vortex polycrystal at high magnetic field. The vortex order-disorder transition is correlated with the second-peak feature in isothermal hysteresis loops, and is interpreted in terms of the generation of supplementary vortex solid dislocations. The sharp drop of the structure factor above the second peak field is explained by the dynamics of freezing of the vortex ensemble in the high field phase.

Microwave surface-impedance measurements of the magnetic penetration depth in single crystal Ba1-xKxFe2As2 superconductors: evidence for a disorder-dependent superfluid density.

We report high-sensitivity microwave measurements of the in-plane penetration depth lambda_{ab} and quasiparticle scattering rate 1/tau in several single crystals of the hole-doped Fe-based superconductor Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) (x approximately 0.55). While a power-law temperature dependence of lambda_{ab} with a power approximately 2 is found in crystals with large 1/tau, we observe an exponential temperature dependence of the superfluid density consistent with the existence of fully opened two gaps in the cleanest crystal we studied. The difference may be a consequence of different levels of disorder inherent in the crystals. We also find a linear relation between the low-temperature scattering rate and the density of quasiparticles, which shows a clear contrast to the case of d-wave cuprate superconductors with nodes in the gap. These results demonstrate intrinsically nodeless order parameters in the Fe arsenides.

Vortex redistribution below the first-order transition temperature in the beta-pyrochlore superconductor KOs2O6.

A miniature Hall-sensor array was used to detect magnetic induction locally in the vortex states of the beta-pyrochlore superconductor KOs2O6. Below the first-order transition at T{p} approximately 8 K, which is associated with a change in the rattling motion of K ions, the lower critical field and the remanent magnetization both show a distinct decrease, suggesting that the electron-phonon coupling is weakened below the transition. At high magnetic fields, the local induction shows an unexpectedly large jump at T{p} whose sign changes with position inside the sample. Our results demonstrate a novel redistribution of vortices whose energy is reduced abruptly below the first-order transition at T{p}.

Dynamic and thermodynamic properties of porous vortex matter in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8) in an oblique magnetic field.

Vortex matter in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8) with a low concentration of tilted columnar defects (CDs) was studied using magneto-optical measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that while the dynamic properties are significantly affected by tilting the magnetic field away from the CDs, the thermodynamic transitions are angle independent. The simulations indicate that vortex pancakes remain localized on the CDs even at large tilting angles. This preserves the vortex thermodynamics, while vortex pinning is considerably weakened due to kink sliding.

Composite to tilted vortex lattice transition in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta in oblique fields.

Precision measurements of the vortex phase diagram in single crystals of the layered superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta in oblique magnetic fields confirm the existence of a second phase transition, in addition to the usual first-order vortex-lattice melting line Hm(T). The transition has a strong first-order character, is accompanied by strong hysteresis, and intersects the melting line in a tricritical point (Hm perpendicular, Hcr parallel). Its field dependence and the changing character of the melting line at the tricritical point strongly suggest that the ground state for magnetic fields closely aligned with the superconducting layers is a lattice of uniformly tilted vortex lines.

Defect-unbinding and the Bose-glass transition in layered superconductors.

The low-field Bose-glass transition temperature in heavy-ion irradiated Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+delta) increases progressively with increasing density n(d) of irradiation-induced columnar defects, but saturates for n(d) greater or = 1.5 x 10(9) cm(-2). The maximum Bose-glass temperature corresponds to that above which diffusion of two-dimensional pancake vortices between vortex lines becomes possible, and the "linelike" character of vortices is lost. We develop a description of the Bose-glass line that quantitatively describes experiments on crystals with widely different track densities and material parameters.

Anisotropic enhancement of superconductivity in heavy-ion irradiated (K, Ba)BiO3.

We have measured the specific heat, resistivity, and ac susceptibility of (K,Ba)BiO3 single crystals before and after introduction of either point or columnar defects by electron (EI) or heavy-ion irradiation (HII). While the magnetic field dependence of these properties remains mainly unaffected by EI, the irreversibility line and the location of the specific heat anomaly are both shifted up in temperature after HII. The shift is apparent only if the magnetic field is applied parallel to the ion tracks. For perpendicularly applied fields, both lines lie at the same field as in the pristine sample. These experiments call the nature of the vortex liquid state into question.

Low energy quasiparticle excitation in the vortex state of borocarbide superconductor yni2b2c.

We measured the heat capacity C(p) and microwave surface impedance Z(s) in the vortex state of YNi2B2C. In contrast to conventional s-wave superconductors, C(p) shows a square root[H] dependence. This square root[H] dependence persists even after the introduction of the columnar defects which change the electronic structure of the vortex core regime and destroy the regular vortex lattice. On the other hand, flux flow resistivity is nearly proportional to H. These results indicate that the vortex state of YNi2B2C is fundamentally different from the conventional s-wave counterparts, in that the delocalized quasiparticle states around the vortex core are important, similar to d-wave superconductors.

First-order phase transition from the vortex liquid to an amorphous solid.

We present a systematic study of the topology of the vortex solid phase in superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 samples with low doses of columnar defects. A new state of vortex matter imposed by the presence of geometrical contours associated with the random distribution of columns is found. The results show that the first-order liquid-solid transition in this vortex matter does not require a structural symmetry change.

Direct transition from Bose glass to normal state in the (K,Ba)BiO3 superconductor.

The introduction of columnar defects in (K,Ba )Bi O3 single crystals shifts both the irreversibility and thermodynamic transition lines, respectively, deduced from ac susceptibility (and/or transport) and specific heat measurements, upwards. This shift can be attributed to the defect-induced decrease of the difference (Delta F) between the free energies in the superconducting and the normal states, assuming that the position of the superconducting transition is given by the condition absolute value Delta F approximately k(B )T/xi(3 ). This criterion also perfectly reproduces the influence of the angle between the tracks and the external field. This result suggests that no vortex liquid phase exists in this system.

Melting of "porous" vortex matter.

Bitter decoration and magneto-optical studies reveal that in heavy-ion irradiated superconductors, a "porous" vortex matter is formed when vortices outnumber columnar defects. In this state ordered vortex crystallites are embedded in the "pores" of a rigid matrix of vortices pinned on columnar defects. The crystallites melt through a first-order transition while the matrix remains solid. The melting temperature increases with density of columnar defects and eventually turns into a continuous transition. At high temperatures a sharp kink in the melting line is found, signaling an abrupt change from crystallite melting to melting of the rigid matrix.

Vortex nanoliquid in high-temperature superconductors.

Using a differential magneto-optical technique to visualize the flow of transport currents, we reveal a new delocalization line within the reversible vortex liquid region in the presence of a low density of columnar defects. This line separates a homogeneous vortex liquid, in which all the vortices are delocalized, from a heterogeneous "nanoliquid" phase, in which interconnected nanodroplets of vortex liquid are caged in the pores of a solid skeleton formed by vortices pinned on columnar defects. The nanoliquid phase displays high correlation along the columnar defects but no transverse critical current.