Effect of flux flow on self-field instability

Flux flow causes type II superconductors to develop resistance continuously rather than suddenly as transport current increases. This means that the distribution of current among the filaments in a composite conductor is determined not only by their inductive coupling but also by the longitudinal resistance they develop as they begin to carry current. The current distribution is calculated in two cases, taking flux flow into account: a composite clamped suddenly across a constant-current source and a composite charged with current at a uniform rate. The results of the latter problem are used to show that slowly charged conductors will be much more stable against self-field instability than is indicated by purely inductive calculations