Aging and memory phenomena in magnetic and transport properties of vortex matter

There is mounting experimental evidence that strong off-equilibrium phenomena, such as ‘memory’ or ‘ageing’ 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 magnetization loops and their ‘anomalous’ second peak, logarithmic creep, ‘anomalous’ finite creep rate for T → 0, ‘memory’ and ‘irreversibility’ of I–V characteristics, time- dependent critical currents, ‘rejuvenation’ and ‘ageing’ of the system response.