Josephson current and dissipation of the c-axis transport in magnetic fields in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

We have measured the c-axis resistivity, magnetoresistance, current-voltage characteristics, and the maximum Josephson current I-c in magnetic fields H parallel to the c axis for a very thin mesa of a Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta crystal, which is equivalent to 20 tunnel Josephson junctions in series. It is found that I-c decreases proportionally to H-1, which agrees with a recent theory and Josephson plasma resonance experiments. This provides a basis for the straightforward application of the Ambegaokar-Halperin theory to the dissipation mechanism of the c-axis transport.