Magnetic field dependence of relaxation times in nonequilibrium superconductors

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00115571· OSTI ID:6405959

Kadin, A M; Skocpol, W J; Tinkham, M

We have investigated the effects of a magnetic field H on nonequilibrium quasiparticle relaxation processes in superconductoors by analyzing the I--V characteristics of long tin microbridges in a parallel field near T/sub c/(H). Following Skocpol, Beasley, and Tinkham, we take the differential resistance of a given phase-slip center (PSC) to be approximately equal to the normal resistance R/sub n/ of a nonequilibrium region of the bridge with length 2(Dtau/sub R/)/sup 1/2/, where D is the quasiparticle diffusion constant and tau/sub R/ is the transverse mode (branch imbalance) relaxation time. The magnitude and the temperature and field dependence of tau/sub R/ as inferred from our data agree well with those of the transverse mode relaxation time in the presence of pair-breaking, derived by Schmid and Schoen. The longitudinal mode disequilibrium is interpreted in terms of local heating proportional to IV, and the resulting distortions in the I--V characteristics are corrected. Most of our samples contain a deliberate weak spot with a depressed critical current I/sub c/, which isolates a single PSC and lowers the heat dissipation (approx.I/sup 2//sub c/R/sub n/).

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 6405959
• Journal Information: J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 33:5; ISSN JLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
656102 -- Solid State Physics-- Superconductivity-- Acoustic
Electronic
Magnetic
Optical
& Thermal Phenomena-- (-1987)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ELECTRIC BRIDGES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASI PARTICLES
RELAXATION
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
TIN