Observation of magnetic flux generated spontaneously during a rapid quench of superconducting films.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2003;
91:197001. [PMID:
14611602 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.91.197001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We report observations of spontaneous formation of magnetic flux lines during a rapid quench of YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) films through T(c). This effect is predicted according to the Kibble-Zurek mechanism of creation of topological defects of the order parameter during a symmetry-breaking phase transition. Our previous experiment, at a quench rate of 20 K/s, gave null results. In the present experiment, the quench rate was increased to >10(8) K/s. The amount of spontaneous flux increases weakly with the cooling rate.
Collapse