Influence of self-heating on the step structures in the current-voltage characteristic of superconducting films

The current-induced transition between the normal and the superconducting state of Sn, In, and Pb films is investigated by varying the helium bath temperature, film thickness, mean free path, and an external magnetic field oriented parallel to the film surface. The experiments show that, farther fromT _c , heating effects play an important role. The heating of the films relative to the helium bath by the liberation of Joule heat in the resistive state and the influence of hotspot formation on the step structures in the current-voltage characteristics of the samples are established with a graphite thermometer. the temperature and the size of the hotspots are determined by the power dissipation, the surface heat transfer, and the heat conduction within the film.