Non-linear flux flow resistance of type-II superconducting films

We analyze the flux-flow (FF) regime in type-II superconducting films exhibiting quite strong pinning. By driving the vortex lattice (VL) up to high dissipative states, the moving VL undergoes an instability, leading to an abrupt change from the FF to the normal state, which is displayed in the current-voltage characteristics as a voltage jump at a critical vortex velocity v ∗. The temperature and magnetic field dependence of v ∗ is investigated in different materials, and an unpredicted low field behavior of v ∗(B) is found. Moreover, for velocities lower than v ∗, a non-linear FF resistance is observed, with a “peak” in the current dependence of the dynamic resistance. This is a remarkable feature of a dynamic transition from disordered to ordered VL occurring in the FF state. We suggest that both unusual effects observed in v ∗(B) and R FF(I) can be accounted for intrinsic pinning