Inhomogeneity of the superconducting state and consequent diamagnetism above T-c: Application to the cuprates

The inhomogeneity of a superconducting system gives rise to an interesting situation when at T > T-c(res) (T-c(res) is characterized by a relatively s harp resistive transition) one can observe an anomalously large diamagnetic moment. Here we focus on the case when the sample can be described as cont aining a nonuniform distribution of magnetic impurities and, as a consequen ce, by an inhomogeneous distribution of critical temperatures. The analysis is in good agreement with experimental data on overdoped cuprates. [S0163- 1829(99)01030-9].