A possible mechanism for the peak effect in type II superconductors

Abstract

Abstract As H c2 is approached the rigidity of the flux-line lattice falls to zero more rapidly than the pinning strength of inhomogeneities. This allows the flux lattice to conform more readily to the configuration that locks it to the inhomogeneous structure, so that the maximum resistanceless current is increased. An idealized model gives an estimate of the height of the current peak in order-of-magnitude agreement with what has been observed.