Effect of superconductive destruction in YBa2Cu3 δ bulk bridges under the action of strong Joule self-heating

Transition from superconductive to normal state and back into superconductive state in bulk single crystal YBaCuO bridges with twins induced by a strong transport current has been investigated. The current-voltage characteristics (CVC), the temperature and magnetic field dependences of resistance [resistive transition (RT)] in the regime of fixed current nearT c were studied in detail. A sharp dynamic superconductive transition or switching over effect, nonlinear CVC, and hysteresis were observed. The CVC and RT characteristics can be explained by the thermal bistability phenomena at strong Joule self-heating of bridges, in particular, in the presence of internal local inhomogeneities in superconductor. Electrical characteristics of bridges which can be used as nonlinear elements for cryogenic electronics were obtained.