title: Disordering of the vortex lattice through successive destruction of positional and orientational order in a weakly pinned Co0.0075NbSe2 single crystal.
abstract: The vortex lattice in a Type II superconductor provides a versatile model system to investigate the order-disorder transition in a periodic medium in the presence of random pinning. Here, using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy in a weakly pinned Co(0.0075)NbSe(2) single crystal, we show that the vortex lattice in a 3-dimensional superconductor disorders through successive destruction of positional and orientational order, as the magnetic field is increased across the peak effect. At the onset of the peak effect, the equilibrium quasi-long range ordered state transforms into an orientational glass through the proliferation of dislocations. At a higher field, the dislocations dissociate into isolated disclination giving rise to an amorphous vortex glass. We also show the existence of a variety of additional non-equilibrium metastable states, which can be accessed through different thermomagnetic cycling.
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Somesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra Ganguli
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Harkirat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saraswat
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Rini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Vivas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bagwe
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Technology Indore, IET-DAVV Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore 452017, India.
authors.forename: Parasharam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shirage
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Arumugam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thamizhavel
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.
authors.forename: Pratap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raychaudhuri