  The uniformly frustrated layered XY model is analyzed in its Villain form. A
decouple pancake vortex liquid phase is identified. It is bounded by both
first-order and second-order decoupling lines in the magnetic field versus
temperature plane. These transitions, respectively, can account for the
flux-lattice melting and for the flux-lattice depinning observed in the mixed
phase of clean high-temperature superconductors.
