The irreversibility line of overdoped Bi_{2+x}Sr_{2-(x+y)}Cu_{1+y}O_{6 +- delta} at ultra-low temperatures and high magnetic fields

Abstract

The irreversible magnetization of the layered high-T_{c} superconductor Bi_{2+x}Sr_{2-(x+y)}Cu_{1+y}O_{6 +- delta} (Bi-2201) has been measured by means of a capacitive torquemeter up to B=28 T and down to T=60 mK. No magnetization jumps, peak effects or crossovers between different pinning mechanisms appear to be present. The deduced irreversibility field B_{irr} can not be described by the law B_{irr}(T)=B_{irr}(0)(1-T/T_{c})^n based on flux creep, but an excellent agreement is found with the analytical form of the melting line of the flux lattice as calculated from the Lindemann criterion. The behavior of B_{irr}(T) obtained here is very similar to the resistive critical field of a Bi-2201 thin film, suggesting that magnetoresistive experiments are likely to be strongly influenced by flux lattice melting.