Density functional theory for freezing transition of vortex-line liquid with periodic layer pinning

Xiao Hu; Mengbo Luo; Yuqiang Ma

doi:10.1103/physrevb.72.174503

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Density functional theory for freezing transition of vortex-line liquid with periodic layer pinning

Xiao Hu·Mengbo Luo·Yuqiang Ma

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Abstract

By the density functional theory for crystallization, it is shown that for vortex lines in an underlying layered structure a smectic phase with period m=2 can be stabilized by strong layer pinning. The freezing of vortex liquid is then two-step, a second-order liquid-smectic transition and a first-order smectic-lattice transition. DFT also indicates that a direct, first-order liquid-lattice transition preempts the smectic order with m>2 irrespectively of the pinning strength. Possible H-T phase diagrams are mapped out. Implications of the DFT results to the interlayer Josephson vortex system in high-Tc cuprates are given.

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Xiao Hu, Mengbo Luo, Yuqiang Ma. 2004-06-11. Density functional theory for freezing transition of vortex-line liquid with periodic layer pinning. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.72.174503

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