Abstract: We study the dependence of the transport properties of square Josephson Junctions arrays with the direction of the applied dc current, both experimentally and numerically. We present computational simulations of current-voltage curves at finite temperatures for a single vortex in an array of $L\times L$ junctions ($Ha^2/?_0=f=1/L^2$), and experimental measurements in $100\times1000$ arrays under a low magnetic field corresponding to $f\approx0.02$. We find that the transverse voltage vanishes only in the directions of maximum symmetry of the square lattice: the [10] and [01] direction (parallel bias) and the [11] direction (diagonal bias). For orientations different than the symmetry directions, we find a finite transverse voltage which depends strongly on the angle φ of the current. We find that vortex motion is pinned in the [10] direction ($?=0$), meaning that the voltage response is insensitive to small changes in the orientation of the current near $?=0$. We call this phenomenon orientational pinning. This leads to a finite transverse critical current for a bias at $?=0$ and to a transverse voltage for a bias at $?\not=0$. On the other hand, for diagonal bias in the [11] direction the behavior is highly unstable against small variations of φ, leading to a rapid change from zero transverse voltage to a large transverse voltage within a few degrees. This last behavior is in good agreement with our measurements in arrays with a quasi-diagonal current drive.

Abstract: We present long-term relaxation measurements of the irreversible magnetization in YBa2Cu3O7-delta Single crystals with columnar defects. Within the single vortex pinning regime we find a nonglassy response at intermediate currents, in between the half loops and superkinks glassy regimes. We demonstrate that such behavior is due to double kink excitations whose critical nucleus has a size independent of current, and occur even in the presence of pinning energy dispersion.

Abstract: We have performed Bitter decoration and ac susceptibility measurements in single-crystal YBa2Cu3O7-delta with oriented twin boundaries. The twin boundaries (TB's) pin vortices over approximately 65% of the sample. The pinned areas are unevenly distributed and some relatively large TB-free regions are present. The Bitter decorations were performed in a 52 Oe de magnetic field rotated off the c axis so that the plane defined by the field direction and the c axis is perpendicular to the TB's. Several decorations were performed in the same sample. Additional dynamical information was obtained from ac susceptibility measurements. Results show that for small tilts the vortices remain locked to the c-axis direction, for angles greater than 12 degrees they form a staircase pattern, and in this case pinning by the twin boundaries remains effective up to 75 degrees. We observe vortex chains in twin-free-zones of the sample for tilted fields at 65 degrees and 40 degrees. Due to our particular experimental arrangement, in the twinned regions the interplay of the potentials giving rise to the chains and the pinning potential produces a structure with a disordered square symmetry. The data allow us to estimate the dominant energy of the vortex system for some inclinations of the applied magnetic field.

Abstract: Systematic measurements of the fluctuation conductivity in several high-temperature superconducting cuprates show the occurrence of a genuine critical regime. The conductivity exponent is consistent with the predictions of the 3D-XY universality class and yields a dynamical critical exponent z = 1.5.

Abstract: Three types of magnetic phase diagrams can be identified in Ce systems: (I) with ordering temperature T-ord --> 0 continuously, followed by a narrow non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) region, (II) with T-ord vanishing at finite temperature, followed by an extended NFL region, and (III) where the degrees of freedom condensed into the ordered phase decreases, without a concomitant decrease of T-ord. Intrinsic differences are found in the way that the degrees of freedom condense at T-ord and from the rising of the specific heat tails above T-ord. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.