Time-resolved stroboscopic neutron scattering of vortex lattice dynamics in superconducting niobium
Abstract
Superconducting vortex lattices, glasses, and liquids attract great interest as model systems of crystallization and as a source of microscopic information of the nature of superconductivity. We report direct microscopic measurements of the vortex lattice tilt modulus c44 in ultrapure niobium using time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering. Aside from a general trend to faster vortex lattice dynamics for increasing temperatures, we observe a dramatic changeover of the relaxation process associated with the nontrivial vortex lattice morphology in the intermediate mixed state. This changeover is attributed to a Landau branching of the Shubnikov domains at the surface of the sample. Our study represents a showcase for how to access directly vortex lattice melting and the formation of vortex matter states for other systems.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- May 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.83.184502
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1101.4571
- Bibcode:
- 2011PhRvB..83r4502M
- Keywords:
-
- 74.25.Uv;
- 74.25.Wx;
- 25.40.Dn;
- Elastic neutron scattering;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons;
- Condensed Matter - Superconductivity
- E-Print:
- 14 pages, 14 figures