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Laminar flow of a sheared vortex crystal: scars in flat geometry
M-Carmen Miguel1, Adil Mughal, Stefano Zapperi
1Departament de Física Fonamental, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|July 21, 2011
Summary
We found that vortex crystals can exhibit laminar flow in a Corbino disk geometry under specific conditions. This flow, driven by thermal fluctuations or shear stress, depends on vortex lattice curvature and disclinations.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Vortex crystals are fundamental structures in type-II superconductors and superfluids.
- Understanding their flow dynamics is crucial for applications in electronics and energy.
- The Corbino disk geometry presents unique boundary conditions for studying vortex matter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions for laminar flow in a vortex crystal within a Corbino disk.
- To differentiate the vortex structures responsible for laminar flow induced by thermal versus current-driven shear.
- To analyze the role of lattice curvature and disclinations in enabling laminar flow.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of vortex crystal dynamics in the Corbino disk geometry.
- Investigation of flow induced by thermal fluctuations and shear stress from applied currents.
- Numerical simulations to validate theoretical predictions and observe vortex structure evolution.
Main Results:
- Laminar flow can be achieved through thermal fluctuations or shear stress, yielding identical velocity profiles but distinct vortex structures.
- Geometrically necessary disclinations are essential for creating the required vortex lattice curvature for laminar flow.
- Disclinations migrate from the boundary to the bulk, forming current-induced grain boundary scars.
Conclusions:
- Laminar flow in vortex crystals is achievable in the Corbino disk geometry.
- The underlying mechanisms and vortex structures differ significantly between thermally and current-induced laminar flow.
- The study provides a method to estimate the critical current for initiating laminar flow, showing good agreement with simulations.
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