Research Initiation: Thin Film Fabrication and Character- ization of the Superconductor Ba(Pb1-xBix)O3

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Thin films of the ceramic superconductor Ba(Pb1-xBix)O3 are of considerable interest both for their unusual superconducting and electronic properties, and for their potential uses in superconducting electronic devices. While high quality single crystals of this material can be produced by ceramic processing techniques, it has proven more difficult to make high quality films. Thin film samples are currently being made (in Japan) by RF sputtering from a single composite target. In this project, an ultrahigh vacuum multiple-target sputter deposition system is being used to fabricate thin films with much tighter control over the deposition process. By studying the interrelation between the deposition parameters and the resulting film characteristics, it should be possible to synthesize thin films with properties nearly identical to the best single crystal samples. Such high quality films can then be used to study the origins of the unusually high superconducting critical temperature (Tc = 13K) in this low carrier density (n 1021/cm3) material. In addition, the potential uses of this material in superconducting electronics, and especially as a microwave detector, are being investigated.