Vortex redistribution below the first-order transition temperature in the beta-pyrochlore superconductor KOs2O6

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Dec 21;99(25):257001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.257001. Epub 2007 Dec 17.

Abstract

A miniature Hall-sensor array was used to detect magnetic induction locally in the vortex states of the beta-pyrochlore superconductor KOs2O6. Below the first-order transition at T{p} approximately 8 K, which is associated with a change in the rattling motion of K ions, the lower critical field and the remanent magnetization both show a distinct decrease, suggesting that the electron-phonon coupling is weakened below the transition. At high magnetic fields, the local induction shows an unexpectedly large jump at T{p} whose sign changes with position inside the sample. Our results demonstrate a novel redistribution of vortices whose energy is reduced abruptly below the first-order transition at T{p}.