The influence of the electron mean free path on phase-slip centers in indium whiskers

Abstract The relaxation of nonequilibrium quasiparticles at phase-slip centers in superconducting current carrying indium whiskers has been investigated. Very close to the critical temperature the “quasiparticle diffusion length” Λ depends on temperature. For lower temperatures Λ is temperature independent and shows the mean free path dependence Λ∼ l 1 2 as predicated by theory.