title: Nucleation and collapse of the superconducting phase in type-I superconducting films.
abstract: The phase transition between the intermediate and normal states in type-I superconducting films is investigated using magneto-optical imaging. Magnetic hysteresis with different transition fields for collapse and nucleation of superconducting domains is found. This is accompanied by topological hysteresis characterized by the collapse of circular domains and the appearance of lamellar domains. Magnetic hysteresis is shown to arise from supercooled and superheated states. Domain-shape instability resulting from long-range magnetic interaction accounts well for topological hysteresis.
authors.affiliation: Institut des Nanosciences de Paris, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Université Denis Diderot-Paris 7, CNRS UMR 7588, Campus Boucicaut, 140 rue de Lourmel, 75015 Paris, France. catherine.gourdon@insp.jussieu.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gourdon
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jeudy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cēbers