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Direct Observation of Superheating and Supercooling of Vortex Matter using Neutron Diffraction

X. S. Ling, S. R. Park, B. A. McClain, S. M. Choi, D. C. Dender, J. W. Lynn

cond-mat.supr-conarXiv:cond-mat/0008353

Abstract

We report the first observation of a striking history dependence of the structure function of the vortex matter in the peak effect regime in a Nb single crystal by using small angle neutron scattering combined with in situ magnetic susceptibility measurements. Metastable phases of vortex matter, supercooled vortex liquid and superheated vortex solid, have been identified. We interpret our results as direct structural evidence for a first-order solid-liquid transition at the peak effect.

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