SUBLIMATION AND HYSTERETIC TRANSITION OF THE VORTEX-LATTICE IN BI2SR2CACU2O8

Multiterminal measurements have been made on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 crystals to investigate the vortex dimensionality and hysteresis at the fields an d temperatures where the first-order transition takes place in the vor tex-lattice. A sharp hysteretic transition is seen in transport proper ties. The data indicate that both resistivity components disappear con currently, and that the melting and c-axis decoupling transitions occu r simultaneously at a sublimation transition of the vortex lattice.