Apparent negative mobility of vortex matter due to inhomogeneous pinning

We investigate the transport of vortices in superconductors with inhomogeneous pinning under a driving force. The inhomogeneity of pinning is simplified as strong-weak pinning regions. It is demonstrated that the interactions between the vortices captured by strong pinning potentials and the vortices in the weak pinning region cause absolute negative motion (ANM) of vortices: The vortices which are climbing toward the high barriers induced by the strong pinning with the help of driving force move toward the opposite direction of the force and back to their equilibrium positions in the weak pinning region as the force decreases or is withdrawn. Our simulations reveal that the hysteresis of ANM is determined by the competition between the speed of the negative motion which depends on the pinning inhomogeneity in superconductors and the speed of the driving force. Under the conditions of either larger force scanning rate or higher pinning inhomogeneity, a marked ANM and a larger hysteretic speed-force loop could be observed. This indicates that the time window to observe the ANM should be chosen properly. Moreover, the V-I characteristics of Ag-sheathed Bi-2223 tapes are measured, and experimental observations are qualitatively in agreement with the simulation.