We present experiments demonstrating the conditions under which weak interaction between replicas of vortex structures break their translational and rotational symmetry. The Fe clumps introduced by Bitter decorations of vortex structures are used to induce an extremely weak interaction for subsequent vortex structures in low and high temperature superconducting crystals. The matching between the Fe pattern and the vortex configuration require the structure to be prepared under quite stringent conditions: The field creating the structure has to be the same in magnitude although it can differ in orientation from that used for the preparation of the Fe pattern. The interaction between vortex replicas as represented by the Fe clumps of Bitter decorations makes it possible to differentiate the vortex nucleation and propagation mechanisms in low and high temperature superconductors.

• Received 25 April 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.62.15183