Vortex transport and voltage noise in disordered superconductors

We study, by means of three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations, the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and the voltage noise spectrum at low temperatures of driven magnetic flux lines interacting with randomly placed point or columnar defects, as well as with periodically arranged linear pinning centers. Near the depinning current J(c), the voltage noise spectrum S(omega) universally follows a 1/omega(chi) power law. For currents J > J(c), distinct peaks appear in S(omega) which are considerably more pronounced for extended as compared to point defects, and reflect the spatial distribution of the correlated pinning centers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.