Jamming and diode effects for vortices in nanostructured superconductors

• Published in: Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol. 470; no. 19; pp. 722 - 725
• Main Authors: Reichhardt, C., Olson Reichhardt, C.J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-10-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Diodes; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid flow; Funnels; Jamming; Mesoscopic and nanoscale systems; Physics; Properties of type I and type II superconductors; Ratchet; Superconducting films and low-dimensional structures; Superconducting vortex; Superconductivity; Superconductors; Vortex lattices ,flux pinning, flux creep; Vortices; Jamming; Superconducting vortex; Ratchet; Superconductors; Flux pinning; Critical current; Vortices; Vortex motion; Vortex vortex interaction; Flux-line lattices; Nanostructures
• ISSN: 0921-4534; 1873-2143
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physc.2010.02.067

We examine jamming and ratchet effects for vortex matter in superconductors with asymmetric funnel geometries. We show that the vortex–vortex interactions can induce a clogging or jamming effect where it becomes increasingly difficult for the vortices to move through the system. We also find that commensurability effects can arise when certain vortex configurations form highly symmetrical structures in the funnel plaquettes. Due to the asymmetry, the critical currents are different for driving in different directions, leading to a diode effect. We also discuss other possible geometries and approaches that could be used to explore jamming in vortex matter, such as an analog to a granular hopper and a single driven vortex probe moving through an array of other vortices.