New Vortex-Matter Size Effect Observed in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ
Abstract
The vortex-matter 3D to 2D phase transition is studied in micron-sized Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals using local Hall magnetization measurements. At a given temperature, the second magnetization peak, the signature of a possible 3D-2D vortex phase transition, disappears for samples smaller than a critical length. We suggest that this critical length should be equated with the 2D vortex lattice ab-plane correlation length R2Dc. The magnitude and temperature dependence of R2Dc agree well with Larkin-Ovchinnikov collective pinning theory.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 2001
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.3626
- Bibcode:
- 2001PhRvL..86.3626W