Structure and energy of a line vortex in a three-dimensional ordered Josephson medium

Two possible equilibrium configurations of line vortices in a three-dimensional ordered Josephson medium for any value of structural factor $b$ are considered: the center of the vortex coincides with the center of one of the cells and the center of the vortex is on one of the contacts. Infinite sets of equations describing these configurations are derived. The infinite set can be made finite if currents away from the center are neglected. The assumption $b$ = 0 is shown to be valid if pinning parameter $I$ is less than 0.25. For $I >$ 0.25, the structures and energies of both configurations of line isolated vortices are calculated throughout the range of structural factor $b$. As structural factor $b$ increases, phase jumps at the contacts, currents in the central part of the vortex, and the total energies of the vortices decrease in both configurations. This leads to a decrease in critical field $H_{C1}$. For all values of $I$ and $b$, the energy of the vortex centered on the contact is higher than that of the vortex centered in the middle of the cell.