Phase transitions in the mesoscopic superconducting square
Abstract
We solve the Ginzburg-Landau equation for a mesoscopic thin film of square shape in the magnetic field. In the limit of large screening length we find a series of first- and second-order phase transitions as temperature and/or magnetic field changes. First-order phase transitions between giant-flux states can be described with a simple variational procedure. We discuss the similarity with rotating liquid He4 and derive a simple formula for Hc1. We identify order parameters based on symmetry arguments and we propose a Landau functional describing the second-order phase transition.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- December 2001
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.65.012509
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0106212
- Bibcode:
- 2001PhRvB..65a2509B
- Keywords:
-
- 74.60.Ec;
- 74.25.Ha;
- 74.80.-g;
- Magnetic properties;
- Condensed Matter - Superconductivity;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 3 figures (in color)