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Spontaneous symmetry-breaking vortex lattice transitions in pure niobium

Laver, M., Forgan, E.M., Brown, S.P., Charalambous, D., Fort, D., Bowell, C., Ramos, Silvia, Lycett, R.J., Christen, D.K., Kohlbrecher, J., and others. (2006) Spontaneous symmetry-breaking vortex lattice transitions in pure niobium. Physical Review Letters, 96 (16). ISSN 0031-9007. E-ISSN 1079-7114. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.167002) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:46995)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.167002

Abstract

We report an extensive investigation of magnetic vortex lattice (VL) structures in single crystals of pure niobium with the magnetic field applied parallel to a fourfold symmetry axis, so as to induce frustration between the cubic crystal symmetry and hexagonal VL coordination expected in an isotropic situation. We observe new VL structures and phase transitions; all the VL phases observed (including those with an exactly square unit cell) spontaneously break some crystal symmetry. One phase even has the lowest possible symmetry of a two-dimensional Bravais lattice. This is quite unlike the situation in high-Tc or borocarbide superconductors, where VL structures orient along particular directions of high crystal symmetry. The causes of this behavior are discussed. © 2006 The American Physical Society.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.167002
Uncontrolled keywords: Physics of Quantum Materials, Crystal lattices, Niobium, Phase transitions, Single crystals, Vortex flow, Borocarbide superconductors, Fourfold symmetry, Magnetic vortex lattice (VL), Structures orient, Crystal symmetry
Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics > QC176 Solid state physics
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Silvia Ramos Perez
Date Deposited: 05 Dec 2017 22:45 UTC
Last Modified: 05 Nov 2024 10:30 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/46995 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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