Direct evidence for an intrinsic square vortex lattice in the overdoped high-Tc superconductor La1.83Sr0.17CuO4+d

We report here the first direct observations of a well ordered vortex lattice in the bulk of a La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4+d) (La214) single crystal (slightly overdoped, x=0.17). Our small angle neutron scattering investigation of the mixed phase reveals a crossover from triangular to square coordination with increasing magnetic field. The existence of an intrinsic square vortex lattice has never been observed in high-temperature superconductors (HTSC), and is indicative of the coupling of the vortex lattice to a source of anisotropy, such as those provided by a d-wave order parameter or the presence of stripes.