Intrinsic tunneling or Joule heating?

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the tunneling spectra observed in certain experiments can be explained entirely by Joule heating effects, without invoking intrinsic tunneling mechanisms.

Contribution

It shows that heating effects due to Joule dissipation can account for tunneling spectra, challenging the interpretation of intrinsic tunneling in these experiments.

Findings

Tunneling spectra can be reproduced using Joule heating models.

Heating effects explain high-bias spectral features.

The normal state resistance R(T) is key to modeling results.

Abstract

It is shown that the `tunnelling spectra' reported by Yurgens et al. could be reproduced qualitatively and quantitatively using the experimental out-of-plane normal state resistance R(T) and assuming that the heating of the mesa, caused by the Joule dissipation, is the only reason for effects observed at high bias.