Current-induced relaxation of charge imbalance in superconducting phase-slip centers

In superconductors with a relatively long inelastic scattering time, relaxation of charge imbalance generated in phase-slip centers will be dominated by elastic scattering in the presence of a supercurrent. The spatial dependence of the electrochemical potential is calculated. Important qualitative differences occur from the usual model of phase-slip centers, based on relaxation by inelastic scattering.Research supported by the Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie FOM.