Dissipation in the superconducting state of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2

Abstract

We have studied the interlayer resistivity of the prototypical quasi-two-dimensional organic superconductor $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$ as a function of temperature, current and magnetic field, within the superconducting state. We find a region of non-zero resistivity whose properties are strongly dependent on magnetic field and current density. There is a crossover to non-Ohmic conduction below a temperature that coincides with the 2D vortex solid -- vortex liquid transition. We interpret the behaviour in terms of a model of current- and thermally-driven phase slips caused by the diffusive motion of the pancake vortices which are weakly-coupled in adjacent layers, giving rise to a finite interlayer resistance.

Four pages, three figures