Effect of Parallel Magnetic Field on the Melting Transition in BSCCO

Vortex states under magnetic fields oriented nearly parallel to the superconducting plane in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 single crystals have been studied by means of the self-inductance ac susceptibility measurement in the frequency region of 2 MHz. We report that the threshold for Abrikosov vortex pinning was decreased by increase of the parallel field component due to enhanced interlayer decoupling.