The structure and elastic moduli of flux-line lattices in anisotropic superconductors

The elastic moduli of flux-line lattices in anisotropic superconductors are investigated. In addition to the well-known bulk, shear, and tilt moduli the authors observe moduli that relate deformations in the basal plane of the lattice to vortex tilt. These moduli vanish when the superconductor is magnetized along the axis of anisotropy. The vortex structure continuum realized in this case has identical bulk and shear moduli and different tilt moduli. A hexagonal flux-line lattice is realized in superconductors with 'easy axis' anisotropy when a weak magnetic field is applied. When the field H is applied in the ab-plane of the crystal the lattice becomes an oblique lattice with orthorhombic symmetry. This results in a sharp growth of its elastic moduli and the induction in the sample. Vortex chain structures are the only stable structures in 'easy plane' superconductors. The elastic moduli characterizing the rigidity of an isolated chain are exponentially large compared to the moduli describing interchain interaction. The tilt moduli may reverse their sign when H is oriented near the axis of anisotropy c for strongly anisotropic superconductors. In this case, the vortex structure and all related elastic moduli undergo a discontinuous irreversible change