Observation of domain wall motion in a polycrystalline vortex lattice

Abstract

We present measurements showing how disorder determines the dynamics of a vortex lattice. Using superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) arrays placed in finite magnetic fields, disorder is introduced by shifting the field away from values where the vortex lattice is commensurate with the SNS array. By applying a current to drive vortex motion, we observe a two-step transition at incommensurate fields: first from pinned vortices to lattice defect motion, and then from individual defect to bulk vortex lattice flow. This behavior is consistent with a polycrystalline vortex structure where defects form on the edges of crystalline domains. This demonstrates that a disordered, interacting vortex system can favor interface physics rather than a quasiperiodic regime.