Reversible thermal breakdown as a switching mechanism in chalcogenide glasses

A review of the main features of chalcogenide glass switches is given and interpreted in terms of a thermal runaway mechanism. It is shown that a simple one-dimensional theory is insufficient for describing thin films, and several developments are discussed, including field-dependent effects, channeling instabilities, and electrode hot spots. Suggestions for future work, both theoretical and experimental, that may help to discriminate between thermal and electronic mechanisms are made.