Evolution of hysteretic nonlinear I-V characteristics in re-entrant thin-film superconductors

The role of self-heating in a current-carrying re-entrant thin-film superconductor in its ferromagnetic normal state is reviewed by considering the smeared normal-superconducting transitions observed in the system. Based on a simple heating model, the effect of this smearing on the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the system is studied. The results demonstrate that even on overly simplified analysis can strikingly reflect the salient features of the system including evolution of hysteresis in the nonlinear I-V curves and the behaviour under an external magnetic field or irradiation. (author)