Nanosecond voltage pulses from dendritic flux avalanches in superconducting NbN films

Authors

P Mikheenko, University of Oslo
A J. Qviller, University of Oslo
J I. Vestgarden, University of Oslo
S Chaudhuri, University of Jyvaskyla
I J. Maasilta, University of Jyvaskyla
Y M. Galperin, University of Oslo
Tom H. Johansen, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

74928

Publication Details

Mikheenko, P., Qviller, A. J., Vestgarden, J. I., Chaudhuri, S., Maasilta, I. J., Galperin, Y. M. & Johansen, T. H. (2013). Nanosecond voltage pulses from dendritic flux avalanches in superconducting NbN films. Applied Physics Letters, 102 (2), 022601-1-022601-3.

Abstract

Combined voltage and magneto-optical study of magnetic flux flow in superconducting NbN films is reported. The nanosecond-scale voltage pulses appearing during thermomagnetic avalanches have been recorded in films partially coated by a metal layer. Simultaneous magneto-optical imaging and voltage measurements allowed the pulses to be associated with individual flux branches penetrating the superconductor below the metal coating. From detailed characteristics of pulse and flux branches, the electrical field in the superconductor is found to be in the range of 5-50 kV/m, while the propagation speed of the avalanche during its final stage is found to be close to 5 km/s.