Abstract
We develop a theory for plastic vortex creep in a topologically disordered (dislocated) vortex solid phase in type-II superconductors in terms of driven thermally activated dislocation dynamics. Plastic barriers for dislocations show a power-law divergence at small driving currents , , with for a single dislocation and for creep of dislocation bundles. This implies a suppression of the creep rate at the transition from the ordered vortex phase ( ) to the dislocated glass and can manifest itself as an observed increase of the apparent critical current (second peak). Our approach applies to general dynamics of disordered elastic media on a random substrate.
- Received 5 July 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.4948
©2000 American Physical Society