Electric-field induced low temperature superconducting granular balls

In a strong electric field E, low temperature superconducting particles of mum size in liquid helium bind to form macroscopic balls and layers clinging to electrodes. There are two critical fields, E-c1 < E-c2. The formation of balls and layers occurs only for E greater than or equal to E-c1. The balls are stable if E-c1 < E < E-c2. For E > E-c2, the balls break and the pieces fly to the electrodes. The phenomenon results from the interaction between Cooper pairs and a strong electric field. A positive surface energy associated with the induced surface charge on superconductors is a possible explanation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.