Influence of twin boundaries on the flux-line-lattice structure in YBa2Cu3O7-δ :: A small-angle neutron scattering -: art. no. 024502

The influence of twin boundaries (TB) on the flux-line-lattice (FLL) structure was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). YBa2Cu3O7-delta single crystals possessing different TB densities were studied. The SANS experiments show that the TB strongly modify the structure of the FLL. The flux lines meander as soon as the magnetic field makes an angle with the TB direction. According to the value of this angle but also to the ratio of the flux lines density over the TB density, one observes that the FLL exhibits two different unit cells in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. One is the classical hexagonal and anisotropic cell while the other is affected by an additional deformation induced by the TB. We discuss a possible relation between this deformation and the increase of the critical current usually observed in heavily twinned samples.