Universality of glass scaling in a YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ thin film

Abstract

The universal behavior of the continuous superconducting (glass) phase transition is studied in a YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ thin film. A new analysis technique for extracting critical exponents is developed, using current-voltage ($J$-$E$) measurements. The method places narrow limits on the glass scaling exponents, $z_g$ and $\nu_g$, as well as the glass transition temperature, $T_g(H)$. The universal values $z_g = 3.8\pm 0.2$ and $\nu_g = 1.8\pm 0.1$ are obtained. Using these values, the data are scaled for fields in the range 1-9~T. Collapse of the scaling forms at different fields describes the universal scaling function. The field dependence of the universal collapse is interpreted in terms of the 3D~XY multicritical scaling theory.