Static and Dynamic Coupling Transitions of Vortex Lattices in Disordered Anisotropic Superconductors

We use three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations of magnetically interacting pancake vortices to study vortex matter in disordered, highly anisotropic materials such as BSCCO. We observe a sharp 3D-2D transition from vortex lines to decoupled pancakes as a function of relative interlayer coupling strength, with an accompanying large increase in the critical current reminiscent of a second peak effect. We find that decoupled pancakes, when driven, simultaneously recouple and order into a crystallinelike state at high drives. We construct a dynamic phase diagram and show that the dynamic recoupling transition is associated with a double peak in dV/dI.