Thermoelectric instability induced by single pulses and alternating currents in second-generation superconducting tapes

Abstract

We have studied current flow instabilities in a second-generation superconducting tapes and the transition of the tapes into the resistive state. Contrary to the usual quasisteady instability regimes, here we consider the adiabatic case in which the sample is heated rapidly. Two kinds of measurements of the current-voltage characteristics (CVC) have been made, specifically, with excitation of the tape by a single sinusoidal current pulse I (t)=I0sin(ωt) at different amplitudes I0 and by a continuous ac current. The main results were obtained for current amplitudes I0 exceeding the critical current Ic. We find that the dynamic CVC are essentially reversible for low amplitudes, whereas they become irreversible and acquire an N-shape for higher current amplitudes. The dynamic CVC change radically if the dissipated energy attains a threshold value Wth roughly equal to 5mJ∕cm for our tapes. When this energy is reached, the tape undergoes a transition to the resistive state owing to formation of normal domains. The development of the instability with steady ac currents was studied at relatively small amplitudes such that the energy dissipated per half cycle is much lower than Wth. Even in this case, a tape undergoes a transition to the resistive state because of energy accumulation (heat pumping). With this pumping, the transition takes place after a definite number of ac cycles, when the total accumulated energy reaches the same threshold value Wth. The specific features of the dynamic CVC are interpreted qualitatively, with the appearance of resistive domains taken into account. Estimates based on the CVC agree well with our experimental data. These results can be useful in the design of superconducting fault current limiters.