Investigation of Optically Modified YBa2Cu3O7–x Films by Means of X-ray Microanalysis Technique

• Main Authors: Artūras JUKNA, Lina STEPONAVIČIENĖ, Andrius MANEIKIS, Adulfas ABRUTIS, Vaclovas LISAUSKAS, Kristina ŠLIUŽIENĖ, Roman SOBOLEWSKI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kaunas University of Technology 2014-06-01
• Series: Medžiagotyra
• Subjects: YBa2Cu3O7–x superconducting thin films; oxygen deficient superconductor; remnant oxygen content; light interaction with superconducting material; laser-writing technique
• Online Access: http://matsc.ktu.lt/index.php/MatSc/article/view/6323
• ISSN: 1392-1320; 2029-7289

<p>This work reports on investigation of remnant oxygen content in optically-modified regions of 0.3-mm-thick YBa₂Cu₃O_{7–<em>x</em>} films, patterned by a laser-writing technique in an inert ambient gas atmosphere at room temperature. A laser-treated region of weak superconductivity with dimensions depending on the size of a laser spot, laser power, and initial content of oxygen is characterized by a lower oxygen content, weaker critical magnetic field, and suppressed both the superconducting critical temperature and the critical current density, as compared to the laser untreated regions. Optically induced (cw-laser, <br /> 532-nm-wavelength) heating strongly affects a non-uniform distribution of remnant oxygen content in the film, depending both on the optical power and beam’s scanning velocity. A level of oxygen depletion and the size of the oxygen-deficient region have been directly estimated from scanning-electron-microscope spectra with the X-ray microanalysis technique. The results of our measurements were compared with results extracted from electric measurements, assuming a correlation between the remnant oxygen content and the electric transport properties of oxygen-deficient YBa₂Cu₃O_{7–<em>x</em>} films.</p> <p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.20.2.6323">http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.20.2.6323</a></p>