Persistence of the first-order transition lines in mesoscopic Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_8$ vortex matter with less than hundred vortices

Abstract

The persistence of the first-order transition line in the phase diagram of mesoscopic Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$ vortex matter is detected down to a system size of less than hundred vortices. Precise and highly-sensitive to bulk currents AC magnetization techniques proved to be mandatory in order to obtain this information. The location of the vortex matter first-order transition lines are not altered by decreasing the sample size down to 20 $\mu$m. Nevertheless, the onset of irreversible magnetization is affected by increasing the sample surface-to-volume ratio producing a noticeable enlargement of the irreversible vortex region above the second-peak transition.