Anomalous angular dependence of critical current in niobium films

An anomalous angular dependence of the critical current is observed in niobium films. This phenomenon manifests itself in the fact that, under small intensities of the external magnetic field, the critical current attains its maximum in a slightly tilted magnetic field. It is found that the position of the maximum depends on the external magnetic field, as well as on the initial conditions under which the samples were kept. A theoretical model is proposed to explain the results obtained. This model takes into account the effect of diamagnetic properties, pinning of vortices, and the initial conditions on the vortex system in Nb films.