Eur. Phys. J. B 29, 359-367 (2002)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2002-00275-9

Application of percolation theory to current transfer in granular superconductors

Department of Materials Science and IRC in Superconductivity, Cambridge University, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK

Corresponding author: ^a bpz20@cam.ac.uk

Received: 3 April 2002
Revised: 18 June 2002
Published online: 1 October 2002

Abstract

We investigate the description of current transfer in polycrystalline superconductors by percolation theory and its limitations. Various computer models that have been proposed are reviewed and related to the experimental and theoretical framework. While some conductor properties can be well described by percolation theory and models, we argue that a conceptual gap exists between experiment and theory. This gap has to be bridged by finding relations between electromagnetic and statistical parameters. We derive various such relations and compare them with recent simulation data. In particular, we suggest a new scaling law between the two fundamental variables “current” and “probability”.