Inhomogeneity and transverse voltage in superconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates how slight inhomogeneities in superconductors can produce unexpected transverse voltages, explaining anomalies observed near the superconductor-normal transition and interfering with Hall effect measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a mechanism linking inhomogeneity-induced voltage components to observed transverse voltage anomalies in superconductors.

Findings

Inhomogeneity causes anomalous transverse voltages.

These voltages can mimic Hall effect signals.

The mechanism explains zero-field and even-field transverse voltages.

Abstract

Voltages parallel and transverse to electric current in slightly inhomogeneous superconductors can contain components proportional to the field and temperature derivatives of the longitudinal and Hall resistivities. We show that these anomalous contributions can be the origin of the zero field and even-in-field transverse voltage occasionally observed at the superconductor to normal state transition. The same mechanism can also cause an anomaly in the odd-in-field transverse voltage interfering the Hall effect signal.