A perovskite-like single-crystal substrate material has been investigated that simultaneously permits epitaxial growth of 1-2-3 superconductor films and possesses desirable rf properties of low dielectric constant and loss tangent. The lattice constant of 3.792 Å provides a lattice match to within 1% of the a axis of 1-2-3. Sputtered films of erbium-barium-copper-oxide have been produced on (100) LaAlO3 substrates that exhibit sharp resistive transitions at 90 K (ΔT=1K), bulk superconductivity as determined by ac susceptibility measurements, and nearly single-crystal growth as evidenced by x-ray diffraction and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The high-frequency dielectric properties of LaAlO3 were experimentally investigated at several temperatures. The low-frequency dielectric constant was measured to be 15 and the microwave loss tangent ranged from 6×10−4 at room temperature to 5×10−6 at 4 K.
We have developed a technique which permits high-yield fabrication of microbridges and low noise YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) in epitaxial thin films. These SQUIDs operate over a wide temperature range extending from 4 K to close to the superconducting transition temperature. Measurements of an rf SQUID operating at 77 K give a peak-to-peak flux sensitivity of 36 μV/Φ0 and a flux noise at 10 Hz of 1.5× 10−4 Φ0/√Hz. Device yields over 80% have been obtained.
Step-edge Josephson junctions are engineered grain boundary junctions fabricated using standard lithographic and film deposition techniques. We report a systematic study of 180 YBa2Cu3O7 step-edge junctions and identify a fabrication technique which results in a 90% yield of working junctions with critical current spreads from 30% to 50% (1σ/Ic-ave)over the entire substrate. Technically useful critical current values at 65 K can be obtained by adjusting YBa2Cu3O7 film thickness. IcRn values, approximately independent of film thickness, are ∼1 mV at 4.2 K and ∼0.1 mV at 65 K. Most junctions exhibit ideal electrical behavior in accordance with the RSJ model.
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