1207.2879 (P. Kusar et al.)

Coherent trajectory through the normal-to-superconducting transition
reveals ultrafast vortex dynamics in a superconductor    [PDF]

P. Kusar, I. Madan, M. Lu-Dac, T. Mertelj, V. V. Kabanov, S. Sugai, D. Mihailovic

We report on measurements of the trajectory of the superconducting order parameter \psi(t) through the normal-to-superconductor transition in La_{1.9}Sr_{0.1}CuO_{4} under ultrafast quench conditions. Using a 3-pulse technique we isolate the trajectory of \psi(t) from single-particle processes on short timescales. Detailed modeling of the system trajectory using hot electron energy relaxation, time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory and vortex creation according to the Kibble-Zurek mechanism describes the experimental data in quantitative detail, significantly advancing our understanding of the behaviour of the normal-to-superconductor transition under highly nonequilibrium conditions.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1207.2879