Effect of thermal inhomogeneity for THz radiation from intrinsic   Josephson junction stacks of Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+\delta}$
  Terahertz radiation from the mesa structures of Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+\delta}$ is detected in samples with thin electrodes $< 100$ nm. In samples with thick electrodes $\simeq$ 400 nm, neither radiations nor voltage jumps in current-voltage characteristics are detected. This suggests that the thin electrode helps excite the Josephson plasma oscillation as a result of the poor heat flow through the electrode. The shielding effect by the electrode is not essential. We consider that the local temperature rise is the origin of the synchronization of the phase kink for terahertz radiation. 
Itsuhiro Kakeya, Yuta Omukai, Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Yamamoto, Kazuo   Kadowaki
cond-mat.supr-con