ARISING AND EVOLUTION OF THE THERMAL DOMAINS IN CURRENT-CARRYING HIGH-T(C) SUPERCONDUCTING THIN-FILMS

S-shaped U-1 characteristics of thin YBCO films are studied under conditions of a developing thermal instability. The relaxation rates of thermal domains to stable states at different values of the transport current are determined. The results of an investigation of the thermal destruction of the superconducting state in conditions of a changing heat-transfer regime in liquid nitrogen are given. The existence of the superheated state of liquid nitrogen has considerable influence on the stability and dynamics of the thermal destruction of the superconducting state and results in the increase of possible types of switch waves.