Vortex instabilities and transient vortex states in superconductors

Description

This project outlines a novel approach to the study of vortex dynamics and instabilities. The advent of high-speed magneto-optically system facilitates the study by enabling imaging the evolution of vortes structures in short times. The two groups submitting this project have conducted pioneering studies in this research area, focusion on different aspects. The German group has been interested in flux instabilities resulting form local heating by a laser pulse. The experiments revealed the formation of fascinating dendritic structures in the time scale of nano-seconds. The Israeli group has been interested in the nucleation and growth of different thermodynamic vortex phases after a sudden change in the external magnetic field. A front like growth of the thermodynamic vortex states was observed on a time scale of miliseconds. The research in these two topics is still in its infancy. For example, the origin of the dendritic structures is not yet known. Also, the fast nucleation process could not be followed. The purpose of this project is to combine efforts in order to systematically investigate, both experimentally and theoretically, the dynamics of flux instabilities in short and long times, near and far from vortex phase transitions. The experimental study will include investigation of the formation of dendritic structures in different vortex phases (ordered solid, disordered solid and liquid) and, in particular, near the vortex order-disorder phase transition line where we expect slow down of the dynamics. In addition, we will extend the study of the process of formation of thermodynamic vortex phases to much shorter time scales, in order to monitor and understand the nucleation process and the conditions for front-like growth. These experimental studies will be complemented by a thorough theoretical analyses and numerical simulations based on the non-linear dynamic theory for superconductors. This combined experimental and theoretical study is expected to shed light on a broad range of fundamental condensed matter phenomena, such as non-linear dynamics, phase transitions, and nucleation and growth processes of various phases.This project outlines a novel approach to the study of vortex dynamics and instabilities. The advent of high-speed magneto-optically system facilitates the study by enabling imaging the evolution of vortes structures in short times. The two groups submitting this project have conducted pioneering studies in this research area, focusion on different aspects. The German group has been interested in flux instabilities resulting form local heating by a laser pulse. The experiments revealed the formation of fascinating dendritic structures in the time scale of nano-seconds. The Israeli group has been interested in the nucleation and growth of different thermodynamic vortex phases after a sudden change in the external magnetic field. A front like growth of the thermodynamic vortex states was observed on a time scale of miliseconds. The research in these two topics is still in its infancy. For example, the origin of the dendritic structures is not yet known. Also, the fast nucleation process could not be followed. The purpose of this project is to combine efforts in order to systematically investigate, both experimentally and theoretically, the dynamics of flux instabilities in short and long times, near and far from vortex phase transitions. The experimental study will include investigation of the formation of dendritic structures in different vortex phases (ordered solid, disordered solid and liquid) and, in particular, near the vortex order-disorder phase transition line where we expect slow down of the dynamics. In addition, we will extend the study of the process of formation of thermodynamic vortex phases to much shorter time scales, in order to monitor and understand the nucleation process and the conditions for front-like growth. These experimental studies will be complemented by a thorough theoretical analyses and numerical simulations based on the non-linear dynamic theory for superconductors. This combined experimental and theoretical study is expected to shed light on a broad range of fundamental condensed matter phenomena, such as non-linear dynamics, phase transitions, and nucleation and growth processes of various phases.

Institutions
  • Department of Physics
Funding sources
Name Finanzierungstyp Kategorie Project no.
Sonstige third-party funds research funding program 508/03
Further information
Period: 01.10.2003 – 31.12.2005