Temperature–electric domain in a bimetallic plate

The conditions for exciting a temperature–electric domain in a pure normal metal in contact with another (“dirty”) metal, through which directed heat transfer to a thermostat at 4.2 K is realized, are investigated. The parameters of the bimetallic system ensure the obtaining of a “low-temperature” domain at a temperature much lower than the Debye temperature. The domain is excited by a quasi-stationary current with inductive coupling of the system with the current source. The current–voltage characteristics of discrete segments of the system are measured over its whole length in the bistable state. The thermoelectric velocity of the domain is estimated, and the conditions for domain pinning at an extended inhomogeneity associated with the nonideal nature of the sample cross section are analyzed.