Determination of Relaxation Time in Bulk Superconductors

A method for studying nonequilibrium effects and their $\overrightarrow{\mathrm{k}}$-space anisotropy in bulk superconductors near $T_c$ is reported. The relaxation time in single-crystal In determined directly by this method, $\tau \mathrm{}\left(t\right)=0.77\mathrm{}\times {10}^{-10\mathrm{}}{\mathrm{}(1-t)\mathrm{}}^{-\frac{1}{2}}$, represents confirmation, both in form and magnitude, of the Schmid-Schön predictions for the relaxation of the magnitude of the order parameter near $T_c$. The associated electron-phonon inelastic scattering time is in excellent agreement with that determined for the comparable portion of $\overrightarrow{\mathrm{k}}$ space by cyclotron resonance.