Switching current distributions in superconducting nanostrips

We study switching current distributions in superconducting nanostrips using theoretical models and numerical simulations. Switching current distributions are commonly measured in experiments and may provide a window into the microscopic switching mechanisms. As the current through a superconducting strip is increased from zero it will at some point switch to the normal dissipative state. Due to thermal and/or quantum fluctuations the switching current will be random and follow a certain distribution depending on sweep rate, temperature, material properties, wire length, and width. By analyzing the resulting distribution it is possible to infer the transition rate for a switch, which can be related to the free-energy barrier separating the metastable superconducting state and the normal one. We study different switching scenarios and show using simulations how data taken for different sweep rates can be combined to obtain the switching rate over a wider interval of currents. In doing this, it is necessary to account for a time delay between the initiation of the switching event and its detection.