Critical fluctuations in the thermodynamics of quasi-two-dimensional type-II supeconductors

Abstract

Thermodynamic quantities in quasi-2D type-II superconductors exhibit characteristic scaling behavior for high fields in the critical region around ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T). Using a nonperturbative approach to the Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional, the scaling functions for the free energy, magnetization, entropy, and specific heat are evaluated in a closed form. The experimental data for ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{10}$ are presented which are in agreement with the theoretical results.