Van Hove singularities and vortex motion in superconductors
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When vortices move in a type-II superconductor under the action of an electric current, they interact with the crystal lattice generating acoustic waves. This results in a radiation-friction component to the vortex dissipation, which peaks at values of vortex velocity where there are phonons in the Brillouin zone of the crystal with matching phase and group velocities (the van Hove condition). Thus sharp peaks are expected in the current-voltage characteristic resulting from an enhancement of acoustic power generated by moving vortices.