Vortex lattice pinning in high-temperature superconductors

Vortex matter in high temperature superconductors has many peculiar properties such as melting of the vortex lattice, creation of new vortex-liquid phases etc. These effects are not seen in conventional superconductors. This is mainly due to the fact that HTc compounds are strongly type two superconductors with Ginzburg-Landau ratio up to ~110 that makes thermal and quantum fluctuations more profound. Another class of unusual vortex matter properties in HTc materials is related to their structural features. Most important are strong layering and structural defects such as dislocations and grain boundaries. Moreover structural defects can be introduced artificially irradiating samples with high-energy ions. In this term paper I am going to discuss effect of structural defects on vortex lattice behavior in particular on vortex lattice pinning.