Crossover from normal (N) Ohmic subdivision to superconducting (S) equipartition of current in parallel conductors at the N-S transition: theory

Abstract

The recently observed (S. Sarangi et al., J. Phys. Condens. Matter, 18 (2006) L143) equipartition of current in parallel at and below the Normal-Superconducting (N-S) transition can be understood in terms of a Landau-Ginzburg order-parameter phenomenology. This complements the explanation proposed earlier (see Sarangi et al.) based on the flux-flow resistance providing a nonlinear negative current feedback towards equipartition when the transition is approached from above. The present treatment also unifies the usual textbook inductive subdivision expected much below T_c, and the equipartition as T_c is approached from below. The question of metastability is also briefly discussed.