LOCAL METALLIC CONDUCTIVITY OF THIN POLYIMIDE FILMS AS A RESULT OF SOFT ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN

The electrical breakdown of a thin polyimide him between metal electro des has been investigated under conditions of strong confinement of th e breakdown current. The result of this ''soft'' electrical breakdown is a local, highly conducting channel in the insulating film implanted in the polymer and consisting of a compound of carbon and metal from the electrodes. It is shown that the polymer channel is converted to t he superconducting state by the superconducting properties of the meta l from the electrodes. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics. [S1063- 7850(97)01807-7].