Evolution of a hotspot in a thin BSCCO structured film

Two voltage jumps were found in the current–voltage characteristic of a thin superconducting film of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox at temperature 58 K. The fluorescent thermal imaging technique revealed a localized heat dissipation (hotspot) nucleated at the current causing the second jump, and the hotspots’ temperature is close to the critical temperature of the superconducting film.

Research highlights
► We use the fluorescent thermal imaging (FTI) technique studying a thin BSCCO (2212) superconducting film at 58 K.
► In the current–voltage curve, two voltage discontinuities were found.
► By using FTI, we revealed that the only one discontinuity is associated with heat dissipation.