Simulated increase of critical currents in heterogeneous hybrid superconducting samples

Increase in critical currents of hybrid superconducting samples in the presence of arrays of defects and applied magnetic field are studied numerically via the Time Dependent Ginzburg Landau equations, with the link variable technique. The results show that a gradient of density in the distribution of defects seems to be the most relevant factor for the highest increases in critical currents. Arching structure of the distribution is not a necessary feature for high increases, contrary to what was claimed before with conformal arrays. The results are obtained with the use of complex order parameter instead of a model of individual vortex dynamics, suggesting some potential limitations of this formulation.