Vortex Cutting in YBa2Cu3O7-δ

Flux cutting, where two contiguous flux lines can interact and exchange line segments, has been studied in low T-c superconductors since the 1970s. Recently there has been renewed interest in this phenomenon [Olsen-Reichardt C and Hastings M. B. PRL 92 ( 15): 157002 (2004)]. We present studies of flux channelling in both extrinsic and intrinsic geometries which demonstrate that flux cutting occurs in the cuprate superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-delta. The angular dependence of the flux cutting effect can be straightforwardly modelled by considering a length independent cutting force, f(cut) per vortex segment. We describe the behaviour of the weakly pinned vortex segments prior to cutting and relate the experimentally derived cutting force to the properties of the vortex line.