CASCADE MODELING IN SUPERCONDUCTORS - PRODUCTION, REGISTRATION AND IMPLICATIONS OF BRANCH IMBALANCE POTENTIAL

The mechanism for creation of electron-hole branch imbalance in superc onductors subjected to high-energy particle/radiation bombardment is c onsidered. The physical basis for the production of imbalance lies in the geometrical difference between the densities of states in phase sp ace for electron- and hole-like excitations in metals. The requirement of charge neutrality fails to prevent branch imbalance only in superc onductors. Using appropriately modified kinetic equations, numerical s olutions for the distribution functions of electron- and hole-excitati on branches are obtained under steady state, non-equilibrium condition s. Recent experimental results on the response of Nb to pulsed laser e nergy deposition are also discussed. An order of magnitude estimate fo r the case of a 10 keV X-ray quantum detection is made.