On the calculation of the phase shift of superconducting fluxons: from the isolated to the lattice case

The numerical problems associated to the calculation of the phase shift due to a flux line lattice (FIL) in a thin superconducting specimen are presented and discussed. In order to be able to adequately treat the periodic case, the Fourier transform of the phase shift due to a flux tube is needed. This result is obtained by means of a new approach, where the phase shift is calculated from the beginning in the reciprocal space, treating separately each Fourier coefficient of the magnetic vector potential. The equivalence with the old approach is demonstrated and the utility of the new formulation for calculating the phase shift of closely packed FLL shown. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.