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

Abstract

Segments of an almost constant voltage (plateaus) on the V(I) curves of long quasi-one-dimensional superconducting aluminum wires placed in a magnetic field are found slightly below T_c, which are unexpected at the parameters and geometry considered in this work. These plateaus are assumingly attributed to subharmonics of the superconducting gap and are due to multiple Andreev reflection and strong quasiparticle heating, which occur in the nonequilibrium region of a wire. The plateaus indicate the coexistence of superconductivity and dissipation in these wires. These results cannot be described by the existing theories.