A new broken U(1)-symmetry in extreme type-II superconductors
Superconductivity
2009-10-31 v2
Abstract
A phase transition within the molten phase of the Abrikosov vortex system without disorder in extreme type-II superconductors is found via large-scale Monte-Carlo simulations. It involves breaking a U(1)-symmetry, and has a zero-field counterpart, unlike vortex lattice melting. Its hallmark is the loss of number-conservation of connected vortex paths threading the entire system {\it in any direction}, driving the vortex line tension to zero. This tension plays the role of a generalized ``stiffness'' of the vortex liquid, and serves as a probe of the loss of order at the transition, where a weak specific heat anomaly is found.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9811149,
title = {A new broken U(1)-symmetry in extreme type-II superconductors},
author = {A. K. Nguyen and A. Sudbø},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9811149},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
5 pages, 3 figures