Pulsed-laser ablation and deposition of superconducting BiSrCaCuO thin films

The present work reports some results obtained using the laser deposition technique to produce superconducting thin films. In situ analysis of transients formed in the plume and surface diagnostics of deposited Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) thin films have been performed. It has been ascertained that mixed-oxide cluster ions are produced in the plume, together with neutral and ionized atoms of the constituent material. The effect of annealing parameters on the structure and quality of pellets and deposited thin films of BSCCO are reported and discussed.