Nonlinear Surface Resistance of YBa2Cu3O7-x Superconducting Thin Films on MgO Substrates in Dielectric Resonator at Ultra High Frequencies

TL;DR

This study investigates the nonlinear surface resistance of YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting thin films on MgO substrates at 25 GHz, revealing how resistance varies with temperature and microwave power, and explaining the underlying physical mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides a detailed measurement and analysis of the nonlinear surface resistance of HTS thin films at ultra high frequencies, including a new expression for measurement accuracy and insights into vortex-related energy losses.

Findings

Surface resistance increases nonlinearly with microwave power.

Measurement accuracy of 1% was achieved.

Vortex generation causes additional energy losses.

Abstract

The nonlinear surface resistance Rs of the YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting thin films on the MgO substrates was researched in the Hakki-Coleman dielectric resonator at the microwave signal powers from -18 dBm to +30 dBm at the ultra high frequency of 25 GHz in the range of temperatures from 12 K to 85 K. The dependences of the surface resistance on the temperature RS(T) in the YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting thin films at the microwaves were measured. The dependence of the surface resistance on the microwave power RS(P) in the YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting thin films at the microwaves were found at the two temperatures T = 25 K and T = 50 K. The full expression for the estimation of the measurements accuracy of the surface resistance RS was derived, and the measurements accuracy was set at 1 %. The physical mechanisms, which can be used to explain the experimental results, were discussed. It is shown that the surface resistance Rs can nonlinearly increase as a result of the transition by the sub-surface layer of the HTS thin film in a mixed state with the Abricosov and Josephson magnetic vortices generation at an increase of the microwave signal power P above the magnitude of 8 dBm. It is assumed that some additional energy losses have place, because of the microwave power dissipation on the normal metal cores of the magnetic vortices.