Dynamical behaviour of superconducting microresonators with readout-power heating

We consider the effects of quasiparticle heating on the dynamical behaviour of superconducting microresonators operating with high readout powers. It is seen that resonance-curve distortion and hysteretic switching are an inevitable consequence of the forms of the quasiparticle heating and cooling functions. The model uses a diagrammatic representation of dynamical behaviour to gain an insight into how the instantaneous operating point moves in response to step changes in readout power, signal power, bath temperature, and frequency. The coupling quality factor has a marked effect on non-linear behaviour. The model is used to calculate the waveforms generated when a device switches between hysteretic states. The work suggests that measured response times need not be representative of intrinsic quasiparticle relaxation rates.