Voltage plateaus on V(I) curves of long quasi-one-dimensional superconducting wires (without microwave irradiation)

Abstract

Almost constant voltage plateaus on the V(I) curves of long quasi-one-dimensional superconducting aluminum wires placed in magnetic field at temperatures T slightly below the critical superconducting temperature Tc were found which were unexpected for the sample geometry and parameters of the experiment. The plateaus are assumed to be subharmonics of a superconducting gap and arise due to the multiple Andreev reflection and strong quasiparticle overheating in the wire nonequilibrium region. The plateaus are evidence of coexistence of superconductivity and dissipation in such wires. The results presented in the paper could not be described by existing theories.