The suppression of excess conductivity with electric field is studied for ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Sr}}_2{\mathrm{Ca}}_{n-1}{\mathrm{Cu}}_n{\mathrm{O}}_{2n+4+x}$ $\mathrm{}(n=1,2\mathrm{})\mathrm{}$ thin films. A pulse-probe technique is used, which allows for an estimate of the sample temperature. The characteristic electric field for fluctuation suppression is found well below the expected value for all samples. For the $n=1\mathrm{}$ material, a scaling of the excess conductivity with electric field and temperature is obtained, similar to the scaling under strong magnetic field.

• Received 1 October 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.69.144511