2006/02/07 by Eleni Katifori, David R. Nelson · 2 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Condensed Matter Physics #Annihilation #Condensed matter physics #Delocalized electron #Geometry #Line (geometry) #Mathematics #Mechanics #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Planar #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Superconductivity #Tilt (camera) #Trajectory #Trapping #Vicinal #Vortex #cond-mat.stat-mech #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.73.214503
published in Physical Review B 73(21) (American Physical Society) · 9 pages, 9 figures
arxiv created 2006/02/07 · openalex publication_date 2006/06/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
To better understand vortex pinning in thin superconducting slabs, we study the interaction of a single fluctuating vortex filament with a curved line defect in (1+1) dimensions. This problem is also relevant to the interaction of scratches with wandering step edges in vicinal surfaces. The equilibrium probability density for a fluctuating line attracted to a particular fixed defect trajectory is derived analytically by mapping the problem to a straight line defect in the presence of a space and time-varying external tilt field. The consequences of both rapid and slow changes in the frozen defect trajectory, as well as finite size effects are discussed. A sudden change in the defect direction leads to a delocalization transition, accompanied by a divergence in the trapping length, near a critical angle.