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Fate of the Peak Effect in a Type-II Superconductor: Multicriticality in the Bragg-Glass Transition Hit : 611

S.R. Park, S.M. Choi, D.C. Dender, J.W. Lynn, X.S. Ling

Vol. 91, No. 16, 167003 - 167003, (2003)

 http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.167003

Abstract

We have used small-angle-neutron-scattering (SANS) and ac magnetic susceptibility to investigate the global magnetic field H vs temperature T phase diagram of a single crystal Nb in which a first-order transition of Bragg-glass melting (disordering), a peak effect, and surface superconductivity are all observable. It was found that the disappearance of the peak effect is directly related to a multicritical behavior in the Bragg-glass transition. Four characteristic phase boundary lines have been identified on the H-T plane: a first-order line at high fields, a mean-field-like continuous transition line at low fields, and two continuous transition line associated with the onset of surface and bulk superconductivity. All four lines are found to meet at a multicritical point.