Quantum oscillations of the rectified voltage and the critical current of asymmetric mesoscopic superconducting loops

Abstract

The current-voltage curves and magnetic dependence of the critical current of asymmetric superconducting loops are measured. It was found that sign and value of the asymmetry of the current-voltage curves changes with value of magnetic field, periodically for single loop and system of identical loops. The obtained results allow to explain the quantum oscillation of the dc voltage, observed below superconducting transition in the previous works, as rectification of ac current or noise.