Conversion of phase-slip lines into elementary resistive domains in a current-carrying superconducting thin film

A nonmonotonic dependence of the differential resistance of the first step of a phase-slip line on the heat-reservoir temperature near Tc has been observed experimentally for the first time in a superconducting tin film. This behavior is interpreted as a conversion of the phase-slip line into an elementary resistive domain as the result of a deviation from the isothermal conditions.