Inherent stochasticity of superconductive-resistive switching in nanowires

Abstract

Hysteresis in the current-voltage characteristic in a superconducting nanowire reflects an underlying bistability. As the current is ramped up repeatedly, the state switches from a superconductive to a resistive one, doing so at random current values below the equilibrium critical current. Can a single phase-slip event somewhere along the wire--during which the order-parameter fluctuates to zero--induce such switching, via the local heating it causes? We address this and related issues by constructing a stochastic model for the time-evolution of the temperature in a nanowire whose ends are maintained at a fixed temperature. The model indicates that although, in general, several phase-slip events are necessary to induce switching, there is indeed a temperature- and current-range for which a single event is sufficient. It also indicates that the statistical distribution of switching currents initially broadens, as the temperature is reduced. Only at lower temperatures does this distribution show the narrowing with cooling naively expected for resistive fluctuations consisting of phase slips that are thermally activated.

5 pages, 4 figures

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• Reversibility of Superconducting Nb Weak Links Driven by the Proximity Effect in a Quantum Interference Device
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• Cratered Lorentzian response of driven microwave superconducting nanowire-bridged resonators: oscillatory and magnetic-field induced stochastic states
• Flipping coin experiment for studying switching in Josephson junctions and superconducting wires
• Temperature and phase dynamics in superconducting weak-link
• Stability of thermally bistable states and their switching in superconducting weak link
• A thermal model with AC Josephson effect for a shunted superconducting weak-link