Abstract
We report measurements of both the specific heat ( C) and the magnetization ( M) of a naturally untwinned YBa 2Cu 3O 7−δ (YBCO) single crystal in magnetic field ( H) up to 26 Tesla. The specific heat data determine the thermodynamic nature of the melting and show its evolution with increasing H within a low— H region (0.1 ≤ H ≤ 10.5 Tesla) in which it is first order, with a discontinuity in C and a hysteretic latent heat, through a multicritical point, and into a high— H region (10.5 ≤ H ≤ 26 Tesla) in which it is second order, with only a discontinuity in C. The qualitative change in melting in that latter region seems to reflect not a change in the nature of the solid but rather that of the (reversible) liquid. The M data show the relation of irreversibility to melting and allow to distinguish between the thermodynamic features at melting to disorder-dependent properties of the solid.
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