Magnetocaloric approach to type-II superconductors

We propose an experimental approach to study the dynamical properties of vortices in high-temperature as well as in conventional type-II superconductors. The experimental technique is based on direct measurements of the power dissipated by vortices moving in the bulk of a superconductor. This magnetocaloric approach provides an alternative, and in a number of cases a unique, information source to a wide range of fundamental problems including vortex pinning, critical currents, surface barrier, vortex movement by quantum tunneling, magnetic instabilities, etc. Some typical results are presented for Y-Ba-Cu-O, Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O, and NbTi samples.