Question 1: The Energy Density of a

Vortex

April 24, 2019

(a).The vortex is the small cylindrical metallic region within the super-
conductor where magnetic field lines can penetrate through. The magnetic
flux is quantized within the vortex and it carries an energy which is called
vortex energy.The expression for energy density of a vortex is given as:

φ20 λ
E= 2
ln( ) (1)
4πµ0 λ ξ0
Here φ0 is the magnetic flux inside the vortex,λ is the penetration depth
and ξ0 is the radius of the vortex. Thus the energy of a vortex is depen-
dent on all these factors.Vortex are the regions where the magnetic field
lines can penetrate through these only above a critical magnetic field and
the quantized magnetic flux is trapped within these circular regions. So the
energy of these vortices is highly dependent on the applied magnetic field.
The number of vortices inside the superconductors is also proportional to
the applied magnetic field. The vortex energy is more if the core radius of
the vortex is small which means that it can accumulate magnetic field easily
if the vortex is small in size. Experiments have shown that the magnetic
field strength remains almost constant inside the vortex and it is gradually
decreased with the distance away from the vortex. Thus one can claim that
the contribution of the magnetic energy to the total energy of the vortex
almost remains constant.We can also claim that this constant magnetic en-
ergy of the vortex is proportional to the applied magnetic field. The applied
magnetic field is energetically favourable condition for the stability of vortex
and total number of vortices. The magnetic field density varies differently in
different regions away from the vortex. This magnetic field density decreases
logarithmically for a small distances from the vortex line axis which follows
the relationship:
φ0
Bz (r) = ln(λ/r) (2)
2πλ2
where ξ0 < r 6 λ. The magnetic field decreases exponentially and becomes
zero far away from the vortex line axis following the relationship:
r
πλ r
Bz (r) = exp(− ) (3)
2r λ
Where r >> λ and its is seen that the Bz (r) is independent of the quantized
flux of the vortex. Thus,one can say that faster the magneic field becomes
zero,less is the applied magnetic field and hence less is the magnetic energy
inside the vortex.

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 (b).The
R free energy of a superconductor can be given by:
F = Fs dr + Ek in + Em ag. Where Fs is the energy of electrons in the
condensed state and Ek in is the kinetic energy associated with the perma-
nent currents. The final energy term is the magnetic energy. If the drift
velocity of the electrons is v and ns is the number density of electrons then
the current density is given as

js = ns ev (4)

The kinetic energy expression is then:

Z
1
Ekin = dr mv 2 ns (5)
2
The magnetic energy associated with the magnetic field B(r) is

B2
Z
Emag = dr (6)
8π
The magnetic field and the current density are related as:
4π
∆×B = js (7)
c
λ 2
Using equation (4) and (7),the kinetic energy is: Ekin = 8π (∆ × B)2 . Where
q
mc2
λ = 4πn se
2 is known as the penetration depth.So the total energy is now:

Z Z
1
E= Fs dr + [B 2 + λ2 (∆ × B)2 ]dr (8)
8π
If we minimize the free energy w.r.t the field distribution B. If B(r) changes
by δB(r),R E changes by δE
1
δE = 4π [B + λ2 ∆ × ∆ × B].δBdr The integrating term must be zero to
satisfy the minimum energy condition. So

B + λ2 ∆ × ∆ × B = 0 (9)

This integration is carried out over all the space outside of the hard core
vortex region. If we consider that the vortex has a line energy J outside its
surface Z
1
J = dr [B 2 + λ2 (∆ × B)2 ] (10)
8π
Equation (10) is applicable for λ >> ξ. The minimum line energy requires
the condition of equation (9) for|r| > ξ. The equation (9) will be modified

2
by a two dimensional delta function as the vortex region is very small and
can write
B + λ2 ∆ × ∆ × B = φ0 δ(r) (11)
Where φ0 is the vector along the line direction,known as the quantum of
flux. If we integrate the equation (11) over the interior of a circle with
radius r encircling a cylinder and using curl line integral formula:
Z I
2
B.dσ + λ ∆ × B.dl = φ0 (12)

We know the magnetic field strength decreases rapidly when r >> ξ and
hence we can neglect the first term of equation (12) and we can rewrite it
after doing the integration as:

λ2 2πr|∆ × B| = φ0 (13)

Or
φ0 1
|∆ × B| = (14)
2πλ2 r
The magnetic field is directed along the z axis. so |∆ × B| = − dh
dr . The
expression of magnetic field after integrating :
φ0 λ
[ln( ) + constant] (ξ < r << λ) (15)
2πλ2 r
Integrating the second term of equation (10) by parts:

λ2
Z
J= dσ.h × curlB (16)
8π
R
Where the integral dσ is to be taken over the surface of the vortex. The
enrgy of the vortex is then:

λ2
J= 2πξB(ξ)|∆ × B(ξ)| (17)
8π
Which is from equation (14) and (15) is:
φ0 2 λ
J =( ) ln( ) (18)
4πλ ξ
(c)The energy of the vortex depends on several factors as we can see from
equation (18) which are radius of the vortex,penetration depth,magnetic
flux. The most dominant term among all these is the magnetic flux inside

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the vortex.

Question 2: Type II Superconductivity-the vortex lattice The

type II superconductors can not repel all the applied magnetic field if the
applied magnetic field strength lies in between lower magnetic field strength
Hc1 and upper magnetic field strength Hc2 .In between these two limit of
magnetic field strength,the superconductor is in the mixed state or vor-
tex state where some of this applied field penetrates the interior of the
superconductor[?].Magnetic flux can penetrate a type-II superconductor in
the form of Abrikosov vortices (also called flux lines, flux tubes or fluxons),
each carrying a quantum of magnetic flux. These tiny vortices of super-
current tend to arrange themselves in a triangular flux-line lattice[?]. this
triangular perodice patter of vortex lattice is observed mainly when the GL
parameter κ( λξ ) > √12 The triangular lattice has better stability than any
other latiice. The vibration frequencies for the triangular lattice is given
as[?]
eB 2
ω = 0.1314( )q λd (19)
mc
In this model each vortex follows an elliptical orbit with semi major to semi
d
minor axis ratio 4λ and the semi minor axis is along q. This equation shows
that vibrational frequency of triangular vortex lattice is always positive and
thus always stable which is not the case for other lattice structure for ex-
ample in square lattice the frequency is:
eB 2 4 2 2
ω2 = ( ) q λ d [0.01989 − 0.03176 cos 4χ] (20)
mc
Where χ is an arbitrary angle and here for the waves propagating in a
direction such that ω 2 < 0,the square lattice will be unstable[?]. The most
general linearized GL equation at Hc2 which is periodic and Gaussian in
nature is given as:
X (x − xn )2
ψL = Cn exp(inqy) exp[− ] (21)
2ξ 2
Although,all solutions of the form (21) are possible at Hc2 ,the parameter
determining the relative favorability of various possible solutions is βA =
<ψL4>

<ψL2 >2 . The change in free energy between normal state and superconduct-

ing state is given as:

1
fs − fn = α|ψ|2 + β|ψ|4 (22)
2

4
Including the amplitude of the wavefunction we can write ψ(r) = cχ(r). So
the new form of free energy change will be[?].

α2 −1
< fs − fn >= − β (23)
2β A
If the wavefunction ψ is constant over a small fraction of the volume f,then
βA ≈ f −1 >> 1. The volume fraction of triangular lattice is smaller than
square or rectangular lattice and hence βA will be large which states that
free energy change will be minimum. This indicates that triangular lattice
pattern of vortices is energetically favourable. The energy density
of vortex lattices can be given by the Gibbs free energy function G. Here it
has been assumed that vortex lattice is in thermal equilibrium that is there
is no thermal fluctuation within the sample and the sample is also defect
free.The expression of Gibbs energy function[?]:
X BH
G = nL J + U ij − (24)
4π