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Positive and negative differential resistance in electrical conductors

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Zeitschrift für Physik B Condensed Matter

Abstract

A phase transition from one conducting state to another and the appearance of positive and negative differential resistance in the current-voltage characteristic is investigated experimentally for the gap instability in nonequilibrium superconductors and the avalanche breakdown in extrinsic semiconductors. Additional observation of spatial current structures in the transition regime of both solid-state systems stimulates a simple model approach connecting these spatial patterns to the measured current-voltage characteristics. Based on the underlying experimental situations considered, our model is extended to the framework of four substantial cases.

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Peinke, J., Schmid, D.B., Röhricht, B. et al. Positive and negative differential resistance in electrical conductors. Z. Physik B - Condensed Matter 66, 65–73 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01312763

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01312763

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