Metastability and switching in the vortex state of 2H-NbSe2

Abstract

History-dependent metastable states with different bulk properties are formed in the vortex state of the type-II superconductor 2H-NbSe2. Magnetic measurements demonstrate the difference between the shielding responses of a field- and a zero-field-cooled state, and provide a procedure for switching the system from one state to the other.