Novel Vortex Solid State in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7 - \delta}$ Twinned Crystals

Abstract

We report on the scaling of transport properties around the vortex melting in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7- \delta}$ oriented-twin single crystals in applied magnetic fields between 1T and 18T. We find that for all the measured field range the linear resistivity scales as $\rho (t,\theta) \sim t^{sy} {\cal F}_{\pm} (\sin(\theta)t^{-sx})$, with $t=|T-T_{BG}|$ and $\theta$ the angle between de planar defects and the magnetic field. The scaling is valid only for angles where the transition temperature $T_{BG} (\theta)$ shows a cusp. The critical exponents $sx$ and $sy$ are in agreement with the values predicted by Lidmar and Wallin only at magnetic fields below 4T. A change in the value of $sx$ from $sx = 1 \pm 0.2$ to $sx = 3 \pm 0.2$ at around $H^{cr} \approx $ 4T when the magnetic field is increased, is responsible for changes in the shape of the $T_{BG} (\theta)$ curve and in the dependence of the linear dissipation on temperature and angle. The results strongly suggest the existence of a different vortex glassy phase in twinned crystals compared to the Bose-glass state found in samples with linear defects.