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Nonequilibrium Superconductivity

Journal Article · · J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116228· OSTI ID:6877249
In general, the quasiparticles, phonons, and pair field in a superconductor driven by an external source are out of equilibrium. Here we review briefly the various quasiparticle and phonon lifetimes in real metals and estimate the strengths necessary to induce a strongly nonequilibrium state. Then we investigate the properties of a thin film driven in a spatially uniform steady state by quasiparticle injection, heater phonon pumping, and microwave radiation. This analysis uses a set of coupled kinetic equations for quasiparticle and phonon distributions and the BCS gap equation with the selfconsistently determined quasiparticle distribution. Such films can be used to generate phonons with energy near 2/sup 0/. In addition, the gap enhancement in a thin film due to microwave irradiation is discussed.
Research Organization:
Department of Physics, University of California: Santa Barabar, Santa Barbara, California
OSTI ID:
6877249
Journal Information:
J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 30:7; ISSN JLTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English