Synthesis and STM investigation of rare-earth superconducting borocarbides

Rare-earth borocarbide superconductors (RE-Ni2B2C) have recently attracted the attention of researchers because of their intriguing superconducting and magnetic properties, in the present paper we report on the in situ synthesis of high-quality thin films of these materials (RE=Y, Er) using planar magnetron sputtering. Low-temperature STM tunnelling investigations were performed on films and single crystals. The STM results, together with d.c. transport measurements, give strong evidence of the weak-coupling BCS nature of these compounds. A discussion of the magnetic vortex structure and of the interplay of superconductivity and magnetism is also included.