Vortex motion through the splayed configurations of columnar defects

We report large current enhancements in YBa2Cu307-δ with splayed columnar defects. An optimal relative splay angle is Θopt = 10° for the planar splay distribution. The vortex motion through gaussian splay appears to be controlled by the large-angle tails of the distribution. The regimes are observed where vortex motion is enhanced rather than suppressed by splay.