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arXiv · cond-mat/0509314

Peak effect and dynamic melting of vortex matter in NbSe$_2$ crystals

Abstract

We present a mode locking (ML) phenomenon of vortex matter observed around the peak effect regime of 2H-NbSe$_2$ pure single crystals. The ML features allow us not only to trace how the shear rigidity of driven vortices persists on approaching the second critical field, but also to demonstrate a dynamic melting transition of driven vortices at a given velocity. We observe the velocity dependent melting signatures in the peak effect regime, which reveal a crossover between the disorder-induced transition at small velocity and the thermally induced transition at large velocity. This uncovers the relationship between the peak effect and the thermal melting.

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N. Kokubo, K. Kadowaki, K. Takita. 2005-09-13. Peak effect and dynamic melting of vortex matter in NbSe$_2$ crystals. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.177005

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