arXiv subjects

S. S. Banerjee

Publications and source records attributed to S. S. Banerjee.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Exploring metastability via the third harmonic measurements in single crystals of $2H$-$NbSe_2$ showing anomalous Peak effect

We explore the metastability effects across the order-disorder transition pertaining to the peak effect phenomenonon in critical current density ($J_c$) via the first and the third harmonic ac susceptibility measurements in the weakly pinned single crystals of $2H$-$NbSe_2$. An analysis of our data suggests that an imprint of the limiting (spinodal) temperature above which $J_c$ is path independent can be conveniently located in the third harmonic data ($χ_{3ω}^{\prime}$).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Vortex nanoliquid in high-temperature superconductors

Using a differential magneto-optical technique to visualize flow of transport currents, we reveal a new delocalization line within the reversible vortex liquid region in the presence of a low density of columnar defects. This line separates a homogeneous vortex liquid, in which all the vortices are delocalized, from a heterogeneous "nanoliquid" phase, in which interconnected nanodroplets of vortex liquid are caged in the pores of a solid skeleton formed by vortices pinned on columnar defects. The nanoliquid phase displays high correlation along the columnar defects but no transverse critical current.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

Melting of 'porous' vortex matter

Bitter decoration and magneto-optical studies reveal that in heavy-ion irradiated superconductors, a 'porous' vortex matter is formed when vortices outnumber columnar defects (CDs). In this state ordered vortex crystallites are embedded in the 'pores' of a rigid matrix of vortices pinned on CDs. The crystallites melt through a first-order transition while the matrix remains solid. The melting temperature increases with density of CDs and eventually turns into a continuous transition. At high temperatures a sharp kink in the melting line is found, signaling an abrupt change from crystallite melting to melting of the rigid matrix.

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arXiv2002

First order phase transition from the vortex liquid to an amorphous solid

We present a systematic study of the topology of the vortex solid phase in superconducting Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$ samples with low doses of columnar defects. A new state of vortex matter imposed by the presence of geometrical contours associated with the random distribution of columns is found. The results show that the first order liquid-solid transition in this vortex matter does not require a structural symmetry change.

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arXiv2002

Investigating The Vortex Melting Phenomenon In BSCCO Crystals Using Magneto-Optical Imaging Technique

Using a novel differential magneto-optical imaging technique we investigate the phenomenon of vortex lattice melting in crystals of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8 (BSCCO). The images of melting reveal complex patterns in the formation and evolution of the vortex solid-liquid interface with varying field (H) or temperature (T). We believe that the complex melting patterns are due to a random distribution of material disorder or inhomogeneities across the sample, which create fluctuations in the local melting temperature or field value. To study the fluctuations in the local melting temperature / field, we have constructed maps of the melting landscape T_m(H,r), viz., the melting temperature (T_m) at a given location (r) in the sample at a given field (H). A study of these melting landscapes reveals an unexpected feature: the melting landscape is not fixed, but changes rather dramatically with varying field and temperature along the melting line. It is concluded that the changes in both the scale and shape of the landscape result from the competing contributions of different types of quenched disorder which have opposite effects on the local melting transition.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Temperature variations of the disorder-induced vortex-lattice melting landscape

Differential magneto-optical imaging of the vortex-lattice melting process in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8 crystals reveals unexpected effects of quenched disorder on the broadening of the first-order phase transition. The melting patterns show that the disorder-induced melting landscape T_m(H,r) is not fixed, but rather changes dramatically with varying field and temperature along the melting line. The changes in both the scale and shape of the landscape are found to result from the competing contributions of different types of quenched disorder which have opposite effects on the local melting transition.

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arXiv2000

Disordered Type-II Superconductors: A Universal Phase Diagram for Low-T$_c$ Systems

A universal phase diagram for weakly pinned low-T$_c$ type-II superconductors is revisited and extended with new proposals. The low-temperature ``Bragg glass'' phase is argued to transform first into a disordered, glassy phase upon heating. This glassy phase, a continuation of the high-field equilibrium vortex glass phase, then melts at higher temperatures into a liquid. This proposal provides an explanation for the anomalies observed in the peak effect regime of 2H-NbSe$_2$ and several other low-T$_c$ materials which is independent of the microscopic mechanisms of superconductivity in these systems.

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arXiv1999

Magnetic Phase Diagram of Weakly Pinned Type-II Superconductors

The phenomenon of superconductivity was discovered in 1911, however, the methodology to classify and distinguish type-II superconductivity was established only in late fifties after Abrikosov's prediction of a flux line lattice in 1957. The advent of high temperature superconductors (HTSC) in 1986 focused attention onto identifying and classifying other possible phases of vortex matter in all classes of superconductors by a variety of techniques. We have collated evidences in support of a proposal to construct a generic phase diagram for weakly pinned superconducting systems, based on their responses to ac and dc magnetic fields. The phase diagram comprises quasi-glassy phases, like, the Bragg glass, a vortex glass and a reentrant glass in addition to the (completely) amorphous phases of pinned and unpinned variety. The characteristic metastability and thermomagnetic history dependent features recognized amongst various glassy vortex phases suggest close connections between vortex matter and other disordered condensed matter systems, like, spin glasses, super cooled liquids/ structural glasses, etc. A novel quenched random disorder driven fracturing transition stands out amongst other noteworthy facets of weakly vortex pinned vortex matter.

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arXiv1999

Peak Effect in Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ : Vortex Phase Diagram and Evidences for Stepwise Amorphization of Flux Line Lattice

The Peak Effect (PE) regime in a single crystal of Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ has been investigated in detail via ac susceptibility as well as dc magnetization measurements. The PE region comprises two discontinuous first order like transitions, located near its onset and peak positions and reflects a stepwise fracturing of the flux line lattice (FLL). This scenario can be construed as an alternative to a scheme involving the appearance of Generalized Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (GFFLO) state as considered in the case of PE phenomenon in isostructural Yb$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ system. The procedure of thermal cycling across the onset position of PE produces an open hysteresis loop, which is consistent with the notion of the fracturing of the FLL. A study of thermomagnetic history dependence of different metastable vortex states shows the path dependence in the critical current density J_c(H,T) over a large part of the (H,T) parameter space. The path dependence in J_c ceases above the peak position of the PE, suggesting a complete amorphization and the loss of long range correlations of the FLL at (T_p, H_p) line. A plausible vortex phase diagram has been illustrated for Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$n and phases like an elastic solid, a plastic solid, a pinned amorphous and an unpinned amorphous states have been identified.

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arXiv1997

Effect of Diorder on the Peak Effect and Structure of Flux Line Lattice in 2H-NbSe2

The effect of disorder on flux line lattice (FLL) melting is studied via the Peak Effect phenomenon. On the upper branch of the Peak Effect curve, where this effect is more robust, we observe a stepwise disordering of the FLL, suggesting two first order transition spanning the Peak Effect region. The lower part of the curve is found to be strongly affected by disorder. Both the branch and the "nose", i.e., the turnaround of the curve, dissapear in systems with stronger disorder and the observed results are consitent with the line seperating a disentangled liquid or a glass from an entangled flux liquid.

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arXiv1997

Anomalous Peak Effect in CeRu2 and NbSe2 : Fracturing of a Flux Line Lattice?

CeRu2 and 2H-NbSe2 display remarkable similarities in their magnetic response, reflecting the manner in which the weakly pinned flux line lattice (FLL) loses spatial order in the Peak Effect (PE) regime. The discontinuous change in screening response near the onset of PE and the history dependence in it are attributed to a disorder-induced fracturing transition of the FLL, as an alternative to the scenario involving the appearance of a spatial modulation in superconducting order parameter in CeRu2.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1997

Disorder, History Dependence and Phase Transitions in a Flux Lattice

The vortex lattice is an ideal system to study the competition and interplay between interaction and disorder. New results on 2H-NbSe_2 (in samples of progressively increasing pinning) elucidate how pinning alters the phase boundary separating the "ordered" and "disordered" states of the flux lines and causes a novel disorder-induced transition. A generic magnetic phase diagram of a type II superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗