Unusual dc electric fields induced by a high frequency alternating current in superconducting Nb films under a perpendicular magnetic field

We report a systematic study of dc electric fields produced by sinusoidal high frequency ac currents in Nb superconducting films subject to a constant magnetic field perpendicular to the film plane. At frequencies in the 100 kHz to MHz range appears a new rectification effect which has not been previously observed at lower frequencies. We have observed the dc electric field generated in this regime in films without intentionally created anisotropic pinning centres, i.e. plain films, both in strip geometry as in cross-shape geometry, and also in films with symmetric periodic pinning centres. The electric field appears in both directions along and transverse to the alternating current and is essentially different at opposite film sides. It depends strongly on the intensity of the magnetic field and may exceed by nearly an order of magnitude the rectified electric fields recently reported at lower frequencies (few kHz) in systems with artificially induced anisotropic vortex pinning. The effect has a non-monotonic dependence on the drive current frequency, being maximum around a few 100 kHz to MHz, and shows a complicated temperature dependence. It is found to be different in long strips and cross shape samples. In the case of films with symmetric periodic pinning centres the rectified voltage shows a lower magnitude than in plain films, and shows an interesting structure when the applied magnetic field crosses the matching fields. We are only able to put forward tentative ideas to explain this phenomenon, which irrespective of its explanation should be taken into account in experimental studies of rectification effects in superconductors.