Observation of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition and of vortex fluctuations in superconducting single crystals of Bi-based cuprates

A. K. Pradhan; S. J. Hazell; J. W. Hodby; C. Chen; Y. Hu; B. M. Wanklyn

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.47.11374

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Observation of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition and of vortex fluctuations in superconducting single crystals of Bi-based cuprates

A. K. Pradhan, S. J. Hazell, J. W. Hodby, C. Chen, Y. Hu, B. M. Wanklyn

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.47.11374 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

We have observed power-law behavior in the current-voltage characteristics of single crystals of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+y and Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox both in zero and in applied magnetic fields. The observed power-law behavior, V∝Iα(T) near the transition with a characteristic Nelson-Kosterlitz jump in the exponent α(T) at T=Tc gives evidence for a Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) transition in wihch vortex-antivortex pairs are dissociated within the superconducting planes. In a magnetic field, the KT transition is suppressed because field-induced vortices induce dissipation and reduce the stability of vortex-antivortex pairs. The interaction of vortex pairs with interlayer flux lines has been discussed.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	84.5	Pressure not reported	onset
Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	83.8	Pressure not reported	onset