title: Current induced decomposition of Abrikosov vortices in p-n layered superconductors and heterostructures.
abstract: We describe the decomposition of Abrikosov vortices into decoupled pancake vortices in superconductors having both electron and hole charge carriers. We estimate the critical current of such a decomposition, at which a superconducting-normal state transition occurs, and find that it is very sensitive to the magnetic field and temperature. The effect can be observed in recently synthesized self-doped high-Tc layered superconductors with electrons and holes coexisting in different Cu-O planes and in artificial p-n superconductor heterostructures. The sensitivity of the critical current to a magnetic field may be used for sensors and detectors of a magnetic field, which can be built up from the superconductor heterostructures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rakhmanov
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savel'ev
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Kusmartsev