Stabilization of non-self-spreading hotspots in current- and voltage-biased superconducting NbN microstrips

Electrical transport measurements were performed on superconducting NbN multicontact microstrips in order to investigate non-equilibrium dissipative states in type-II nanostructures. Current-biased and voltage-biased approaches point out the ability to stabilize a normal phase that grows discontinuously, in opposition to the usual self-spreading hotspot propagation. Results obtained by applying a dc voltage to two segments in series support this idea of a peculiar hotspot expansion. This last voltage-biasing configuration, which involves five contacts, could be used in the future to distinguish more easily between hotspot discontinuous growth and phase-slippage mechanisms.

[1]  T. Qian,et al.  Numerical study of the phase slip in two-dimensional superconducting strips , 2008 .

[2]  V. Mitin,et al.  One-dimensional resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors : Experiment and theory , 2007, 0709.0709.

[3]  S. G. Zybtsev,et al.  Nucleation of Normal Phase in the Dynamic Resistive State in Submicron Bi2212 Bridges , 2005 .

[4]  Vitaly M. Dmitriev,et al.  Critical currents, phase slip centers, and phase slip lines in superconducting films in the absence of external magnetic field , 2005 .

[5]  M. Siegel,et al.  Spectral cut-off in the efficiency of the resistive state formation caused by absorption of a single-photon in current-carrying superconducting nano-strips , 2004, cond-mat/0410633.

[6]  L. Antognazza,et al.  Simulation of the initial response of a high?Tc superconducting film submitted to?a voltage source , 2004 .

[7]  A V Ustinov,et al.  Josephson behavior of phase-slip lines in wide superconducting strips. , 2003, Physical review letters.

[8]  K. Harrabi,et al.  Extended Domain of Existence for PSCs in Superconductors , 2002 .

[9]  L. Antognazza,et al.  Current-induced highly dissipative domains in high-T c thin films , 2002, cond-mat/0205593.

[10]  O. Okunev,et al.  Picosecond superconducting single-photon optical detector , 2001 .

[11]  K. Harrabi,et al.  Temporal Evolution of Normal Hot Spots in Current-Driven Superconducting Films , 2001 .

[12]  H. Seppa,et al.  Superconducting NbN microstrip detectors , 1999 .

[13]  J. Villégier,et al.  TIME OF NUCLEATION OF PHASE-SLIP CENTERS IN YBA2CU3O7 SUPERCONDUCTING BRIDGES , 1998 .

[14]  G. Darcy Poulin,et al.  CURRENT-VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF DC VOLTAGE BIASED HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING MICROBRIDGES , 1995 .

[15]  Aleksandr V. Gurevich,et al.  Self-heating in normal metals and superconductors , 1987 .

[16]  Michael Tinkham,et al.  Self‐heating hotspots in superconducting thin‐film microbridges , 1974 .

[17]  M. Beasley,et al.  Phase-slip centers and nonequilibrium processes in superconducting tin microbridges , 1974 .