Ray optics behavior of flux avalanche propagation in superconducting films

Authors

Pavlo Mikheenko, University of OsloFollow
Tom H. Johansen, University of WollongongFollow
Supratim Chaudhuri, University of Jyvaskyla
I J. Maasilta, University of Jyvaskyla
Y Galperin, Centre for Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Physico-Technical Institute RAS, University of Oslo, Argonne National Laboratory

RIS ID

98622

Publication Details

Mikheenko, P., Johansen, T. H., Chaudhuri, S., Maasilta, I. J. & Galperin, Y. M. (2015). Ray optics behavior of flux avalanche propagation in superconducting films. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 91 (6), 060507-1-060507-4.

Abstract

Experimental evidence of wave properties of dendritic flux avalanches in superconducting films is reported. Using magneto-optical imaging the propagation of dendrites across boundaries between a bare NbN film and areas coated by a Cu layer was visualized, and it was found that the propagation is refracted in full quantitative agreement with Snell's law. For the studied film of 170 nm thickness and a 0.9μm thick metal layer, the refractive index was close to n=1.4. The origin of the refraction is believed to be caused by the dendrites propagating as an electromagnetic shock wave, similar to damped modes considered previously for normal metals. The analogy is justified by the large dissipation during the avalanches raising the local temperature significantly. Additional time-resolved measurements of voltage pulses generated by segments of the dendrites traversing an electrode confirm the consistency of the adopted physical picture.