Orientational coupling between the vortex lattice and the crystalline lattice in a weakly pinned Co_0.0075NbSe₂ single crystal

Abstract

We report experimental evidence of strong orientational coupling between the crystal lattice and the vortex lattice in a weakly pinned Co-doped NbSe₂ single crystal through direct imaging using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. When the magnetic field is applied along the six-fold symmetric c-axis of the NbSe₂ crystal, the basis vectors of the vortex lattice are preferentially aligned along the basis vectors of the crystal lattice. The orientational coupling between the vortex lattice and crystal lattice becomes more pronounced as the magnetic field is increased. This orientational coupling enhances the stability of the orientational order of the vortex lattice, which persists even in the disordered state at high fields where dislocations and disclinations have destroyed the topological order. Our results underpin the importance of crystal lattice symmetry on the vortex state phase diagram of weakly pinned type II superconductors.