Abstract
It is shown that a positive interphase surface energy leads to hysteresis in the superconducting-normal conducting phase transition in a magnetic field. The argument is based on the simple thermodynamic theory of the phase transition. In view of these arguments, the magnetization curves of superconductors with various simple geometries are discussed. It is shown that either superheating or supercooling or both may occur depending on the particular geometry involved.

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