Percolation transition in the heterogeneous vortex state of NbSe2.

A percolation transition in the vortex state of a superconducting 2H-NbSe2 crystal is observed in the regime where vortices form a heterogeneous phase consisting of ordered and disordered domains. The transition is signaled by a sharp increase in critical current that occurs when the volume fraction of disordered domains reaches the value P(c) = 0.26 +/- 0.04. Measurements on different vortex states show that, while the temperature of the transition depends on history and measurement speed, the value of P(c) and the critical exponent characterizing the approach to it, r = 1.97 +/- 0.66, are universal.