The observation of a transverse voltage at the superconducting transition of thin films

The authors have observed the occurrence of a nonHall transverse voltage in the absence of any externally applied magnetic field as a film is brought through its superconducting transition either by changing temperature or current. This voltage goes from zero to a maximum and then back to zero as the transition is traversed in either direction. A model that accounts for these observations has been published by L.I. Glazman (1986). The experimental functional dependence of V/sub T/ is in good qualitative agreement with Glazman's theoretical predictions. This suggests that vortex-antivortex interactions, present in the mixed state of all superconductors, may be the cause for the observed nonzero V/sub T/. An orientational effect consistent with flux guiding which affects the amplitude of the observed peak and provides all explanation for the variation in amplitude has been observed. It is suggested that reports of anomalous Hall effect and resistance anomalies in the literature may be related to this effect.