Superconducting interlayer decoupling and softening of the flux line structure in BSCCO single crystals

The authors have made mechanical oscillator and AC susceptibility measurements in BSCCO single crystals over a wide range of intensities and orientations of the magnetic field. The mechanical measurements show, in addition to the large softening and dissipation peak previously interpreted as a flux lattice melting, another peak at higher temperatures. Measurements of AC susceptibility show that the low temperature peak is due to the superconducting decoupling of the Cu-O planes, while the high temperature peak is due to the movement of the pancake vortices in the planes.

Duke Scholars

Author David Mitzi Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...