INTERLAYER TUNNELING MODEL FOR THE C-AXIS RESISTIVITY IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS

The c-axis resistivity of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox single crystals shows a magnetic-field-dependent peak below the zero-field T(c). We find good agreement with the temperature and field dependence of the peak, by modeling the c-axis conduction as a series stack of Josephson tunnel junctions. For intermediate values of the Josephson coupling, we predict such a peak and verify it by measurements on discreet, thin-film Josephson junctions. The exaggerated effects in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox result from its unusually large energy gap and fluctuations.