[en] The following topics were dealt with: glassy systems, structural glasses, spin glasses, vortex glasses, Josephson junction arrays, protein folding, microscopic dynamics of glasses, computer simulation models, glass transitions, mean-field glassy systems, quantum glasses

[en] Type-II superconductors in magnetic fields >H_c1 form a regular array of vortices (Abrikosov-lattice). Vortices exposed to a current J perpendicular to H move collectively due to the Lorentz-force, producing a voltage and thereby destroying superconductivity. Point disorder pins vortices. This leads to destruction of Abrikosov-lattice, nonlinear response to J, vanishing linear resistivity ρ_lin=lim J → 0 E/J = 0, new superconducting phase: vortex glass, experiments and simulations (Gauge glass model): in two dimensions T_c=0 in three dimensions T_c > 0 (orig.)

[en] The mixed state of high temperature superconductors (HTS) is a new field that allows us to study very interesting and new phenomena related with glassy behavior. There are many topics that could be addressed, but in this paper we are going to deal with two topics. The first one concerning to the single vortex dynamics, and the second one related with the dissipation mechanisms of the vortices and the so-called lock-in transition. The former will be studied using the anomalous behavior of the Hall effect in the mixed state with c-axis oriented 1:2:3 films the latter using as an appropriate tool the critical current, the pinning force and the resistivity (dissipation) in the mixed state of 1:2:3 a-axis oriented superconductor / non-superconductors multilayers. (orig.)

[en] Columnar defects provide effective pinning centers for magnetic flux lines in high-T_c superconductors. Utilizing a mapping of the statistical mechanics of directed lines to the quantum mechanics of two-dimensional bosons, one expects an entangled flux liquid phase at high temperatures, separated by a second-order localization transition from a low-temperature ''Bose glass'' phase with infinite tilt modulus. Recent decoration experiments have demonstrated that below the matching field the repulsive forces between the vortices may be sufficiently large to produce strong spatial correlations in the Bose glass. This is confirmed by numerical simulations, and a remarkably wide soft ''Coulomb gap'' at the chemical potential is found in the distribution of pinning energies. At low currents, the dominant transport mechanism in the Bose glass phase proceeds via the formation of double kinks between not necessarily adjacent columnar pins, similar to variable-range hopping in disordered semiconductors. The strong correlation effects originating in the long-range vortex interactions drastically reduce variable-range hopping transport. (orig.)

[en] We summarize recent work on a frustrated periodic long-range Josephson array in a parameter regime where its dynamical behavior is identical to that of the p=4 disordered spherical model. We also discuss the physical requirements imposed by the theory on the experimental realization of this superconducting network. (orig.)

[en] I review several problems dealing with the equilibrium behavior of classical two dimensional Josephson junction arrays in applied magnetic fields. Specific attention is given to the cases of a uniform field with average flux density per unit cell of f=0, f=1/2, f=1/q and f=1/2-1/q. Several models incorporating the effects of randomness on the Josephson array are also reviewed. These include the case of a random vortex pinning potential and its effects on vortex lattice order, and the spin glass, gauge glass, and positionally disordered array. (orig.)

[en] Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies are an essential tool for studying vortices in the bulk of type II superconductors, providing deep understanding of their three dimensional microscopic structure in a wide range of fields and temperatures. This talk will summarize detailed studies of flux lattices in the vicinity of two critical transitions: (1) flux lattices in the vicinity of the critical current in 2H-NbSe₂. We find a clear evidence for a two step depinning process: as a function of increasing driving force three regimes are observed - first, no motion; then disordered, plastic motion; and finally at high velocities a coherently moving crystal, (2) flux lattices in the vicinity of the peak effect, below the upper critical field, H_c2, in Nb. Our studies reveal drastic structural disordering, characterized by complete loss of positional and orientational correlations, whereas the lines remain well correlated along their length. (orig.)

[en] This is a short review of the current state of theory and experiment on the structure of elastic lattices weakly interacting with underlying random background. Examples are flux lattices in superconductors, magnetic bubble lattices in ferromagnetic films, charge density waves in semiconductors, and atomic monolayers physisorbed on random surfaces. We shall argue that the orientational order in these systems persists at longer scales than the translational order. The law of the decay of both types of order will be analysed, with the emphasis on its practical implications for superconductors. The depinning transition will be discussed in terms of the mobility of the lattice. (orig.)