Aging and memory phenomena in magnetic and transport properties of vortex matter: a brief review

There is mounting experimental evidence that strong off-equilibrium phenomena, such as “memory” or “aging” effects, play a crucial role in the physics of vortices in type II superconductors. In the framework of a recently introduced schematic vortex model, we describe the out of equilibrium properties of vortex matter. We develop a unified description of “memory” phenomena in magnetic and transport properties, such as magnetisation loops and their “anomalous” 2nd peak, logarithmic creep, “anomalous” finite creep rate for T → 0, “memory” and “irreversibility” of I-V characteristics, time dependent critical currents, “rejuvenation” and “aging” of the system response.