GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY AND VORTEX LATTICE OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS

The thermodynamics of the vortex lattice of high-temperature superconductors has been studied by solving the generalized Ginzburg-Landau equations derived microscopically. Our numerical simulation indicates that the structure of the vortex lattice is oblique at the temperature far away from the transition temperature T_c, where the mixed s-d_x²-y² state is expected to have the lowest energy. Whereas, very close to T_c, the d_x²-y² wave is slightly lower energetically, and a triangular vortex lattice recovers. The coexistence and the coupling between the s and d waves would account for the unusual dynamic behaviours such as the upward curvature of the upper critical field curve H_C2(T), as observed in dc magnetization measurements on single-crystal YBa₂Cu₃O₇ samples.