Intrinsic pinning of vortices as a direct probe of the nonuniform Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell state in layered superconductors

Previously the search for the modulated superconducting Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell (LOFF) state was performed by means of measurements which do not give direct information on spatial modulation of the superconducting state. We propose to measure interlayer conductivity in Josephson-coupled layered superconductors as a function of the strength and the orientation of the parallel magnetic field. We show that interlayer critical current and the conductivity have peaks when the magnetic field is perpendicular to the in-plane wave vector of the LOFF state and when the period of the Josephson vortex lattice induced by the magnetic field is commensurate with the LOFF period.