Engineering topics

Bajuk, L. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Bajuk, L. J..

6 records

NASA NTRS1992

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization of a nonsuperconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductor-normal-metal-superconductor barrier material

A film of a novel nonsuperconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) barrier material was grown using conditions similar to those reported by Agostinelli et al. (1991) for forming a cubic semiconducting (c-YBCO) phase, and the material was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A comparison of the XPS spectra of this material to those obtained from the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of YBCO (o-YBCO and t-YBCO, respectively) showed that the barrier material had spectral characteristics different from those of o-YBCO and t-YBCO, particularly in the O 1s region. Features associated with the Cu-O chain and surface-reconstructed Cu-O planes were absent, consistent with expectations for the simple perovskite crystal structure of c-YBCO proposed by Agostinelli et al.

Vasquez, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

All-YBa2Cu3O(7-x) edge-geometry weak links

High quality YBa2Cu3O(7-x)/normal-metal/YBa2Cu3O(7-x) edge-geometry weak links are fabricated using nonsuperconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O barrier layers deposited by laser ablation at reduced growth temperatures. Devices incorporating 25-100-A-thick barrier layers exhibit current-voltage characteristics consistent with the resistively-shunted-junction model, as well as ac Josephson steps. Magnetic field modulation of the critical currents shows Fraunhofer-like behavior with a periodicity which scales with device area. The critical currents vary exponentially with barrier thickness indicating an effective normal metal coherence length of 20 A. The average resistances scale linearly with Y-Ba-Cu-O interlayer thickness and device area. The scaling behavior of the device parameters combined with the well-behaved magnetic field modulation of the critical currents demonstrates good barrier-layer uniformity with low pinhole densities. Near the transition temperature, the critical currents exhibit a temperature dependence proportional to (1 - T/Tc) squared.

Hunt, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Composition variations in pulsed-laser-deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films as a function of deposition parameters

The composition of pulsed-ultraviolet-laser-deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O films was examined as a function of position across the substrate, laser fluence, laser spot size, substrate temperature, target conditioning, oxygen pressure and target-substrate distance. Laser fluence, laser spot size, and substrate temperature were found to have little effect on composition within the range investigated. Ablation from a fresh target surface results in films enriched in copper and barium, both of which decrease in concentration until a steady state condition is achieved. Oxygen pressure and target-substrate distance have a significant effect on film composition. In vacuum, copper and barium are slightly concentrated at the center of deposition. With the introduction of an oxygen background pressure, scattering results in copper and barium depletion in the deposition center, an effect which increases with increasing target-substrate distance. A balancing of these two effects results in stoichiometric deposition.

Foote, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

All high Tc edge-geometry weak links utilizing Y-Ba-Cu-O barrier layers

High quality YBa2Cu3O(7-x) normal-metal/YBa2Cu3O(7-x) edge-geometry weak links have been fabricated using nonsuperconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O barrier layers deposited by laser ablation at reduced growth temperatures. Devices incorporating 25-100 A thick barrier layers exhibit current-voltage characteristics consistent with the resistively shunted junction model, with strong microwave and magnetic field response at temperatures up to 85 K. The critical currents vary exponentially with barrier thickness, and the resistances scale linearly with Y-Ba-Cu-O interlayer thickness and device area, indicating good barrier uniformity, with an effective mormal metal coherence length of 20 A.

Hunt, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)/Au/Nb sandwich geometry SNS weak links on c-axis oriented YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)

Sandwich geometry superconductor/normal metal/superconductor structures have been fabricated on LaAlO3 and cubic zirconia with laser-ablated, c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) base electrodes, 100-600 A of Au, and Nb counter electrodes, all formed in situ without breaking vacuum. Junctions range in size from 5 to 50 micron on a side. Four probe I-V measurements at 4.2 K show RnA products as low as 6 x 10 to the -9th sq cm and critical current densities up to 5.2 kA/sq cm. AC Josephson steps were observed with the application of 10-GHz radiation. The temperature dependence of Jc and the observation of the AC Josephson effect suggest that true supercurrents are present and that they do indeed represent the characteristics of the YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)/Au/Nb structure. The best results were obtained when the devices were annealed at about 450 C in O2 for 30 min after Au deposition.

Foote, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

High-temperature superconducting superconductor/normal metal/superconducting devices

We describe the fabrication and characterization of superconductor/normal metal/superconductor (SNS) devices made with the high-temperature superconductor (HTS) YBa2Cu3O(7-x). Structures of YBa2Cu3O(7-x)/Au/Nb on c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O(7-x) were made in both sandwich and edge geometries in order to sample the HTS material both along and perpendicular to the conducting a-b planes. These devices display fairly ideal Josephson properties at 4.2 K. In addition, devices consisting of YBa2Cu3O(7-x)/YBa2Cu3O(y)/YBa2Cu3O(7-x), with a 'normal metal' layer of reduced transition temperature YBa2Cu3O(7-x) were fabricated and show a great deal of promise for applications near 77 K. Current-voltage characteristics like those of the Resistively-Shunted Junction model are observed, with strong response to 10 GHz radiation above 60 K.

Foote, M. C.↗