Current-induced self-organisation of mixed superconducting states
Xaver Simon Brems, S. Mühlbauer, W. Y. Córdoba-Camacho, A. A. Shanenko, A. Vagov, J. Albino Aguiar, R. Cubitt
Abstract
Abstract Small-angle neutron scattering is used in combination with transport measurements to investigate the current-induced effects on the morphology of the intermediate mixed state (IMS) domains in the intertype superconductor niobium. We report the robust self-organisation of the vortex lattice domains to elongated parallel stripes perpendicular to the applied current in a steady-state. The experimental results for the formation of the superstructure are supported by theoretical calculations, which highlight important details of the vortex matter evolution. The investigation demonstrates a mechanism of a spontaneous pattern formation that is closely related to the universal physics governing the IMS in low- κ superconductors.