Nucleation, pinning, and flow of vortices in Josephson-junction arrays with defects

Sujay Datta; Shantilal Das; Deshdeep Sahdev; Ravi Mehrotra

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.54.15438

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Nucleation, pinning, and flow of vortices in Josephson-junction arrays with defects

Sujay Datta, Shantilal Das, Deshdeep Sahdev, Ravi Mehrotra

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.54.15438 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

We numerically study the properties of two-dimensional overdamped Josephson-junction arrays containing defects. We employ fast algorithms adapted to arrays with defects. In arrays as large as 128×256, we investigate the vortex pinning regime, the transition from the superconducting to the resistive state and various finite size effects. Owing to the highly anisotropic nature of the pinning potential in rectangular arrays, we observe pinned vortices in arrays much smaller than expected so far. The energy of the array changes discontinuously at transitions across vortex sectors that are characterized by the number of pinned vortices. These pinned vortices also cause hysteresis in the array which we investigate in some detail. The periodic regime reveals the nature of waves which carry the vortices. Finally, an analysis of extended and distributed defect patterns affirms the analogy of current driven arrays with hydrodynamic flows.