Pulsed-laser beam profiling for deposition of high-T_c YBCO films

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that shaping the laser beam profile and optimizing target and substrate conditions improve the homogeneity and critical temperature of YBCO superconducting films deposited by pulsed laser ablation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laser beam shaping technique and specific target/substrate configurations to enhance high-temperature superconductor film quality.

Findings

Improved film homogeneity and T_c with beam shaping.

Effective removal of ejected particles using a velocity filter.

High-quality YBCO films achieved with non-stoichiometric targets.

Abstract

A special shaping of YAG:Nd^{3+} laser beam profile has been found to improve homogeneity and T_c of YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta} films being deposited by the pulsed laser. Targets of a considerably non-stoichiometric composition and substrates of slanting cuts have turned to be necessary for the high-quality film growing. Multiple droplets and solid particles ejected from the target surface by the infrared radiation are removed successfuly from the laser-induced plasma by use of a velocity filter.