RF-studies of vortex dynamics in isotropic type-II superconductors

Abstract We have measured the surface impedance of thick superconductors in the mixed state over a broad 2 kHz–20 MHz frequency range. The depinning cross-over is observed, but it is much broader than expected from classical theories of pinning. A striking result is the existence of size effects which invalidate the common interpretation of the low-frequency surface inductance in terms of a single penetration depth. Instead, a two-mode description of vortex dynamics, assuming free vortex flow in the bulk and surface pinning, accounts quantitatively for the spectrum of the complex apparent penetration depth.