Step change in equilibrium magnetization across the second magnetization peak and the peak effect region of a weakly pinned low Tc superconductor, Ca3Rh4Sn13

Abstract

Isothermal magnetization studies in a low Tc type II superconductor, Ca3Rh4Sn13 (Tc≈8.37K), show abrupt step changes in the equilibrium magnetization lines across the second magnetization peak and the peak effect regions suggesting that both of these phenomena are first order phase transitions. We also observed two jumps in the equilibrium magnetization at two different temperature (or field) domains for a constant field (or temperature) in this low Tc superconductor.