The influence of the electron mean free path on phase-slip centers in indium whiskers

The relaxation of nonequilibrium quasiparticles at phase-slip centers in superconducting current carrying indium whiskers has been investigated. Very close to the critical temperature the “quasiparticle diffusion length” Λ depends on temperature. For lower temperatures Λ is temperature independent and shows the mean free path dependence $\text{Λ～ l}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ as predicated by theory.