G. Bertsche et al., NANOMETER-SCALE SURFACE MODIFICATIONS OF YBA2CU3O7-DELTA THIN-FILMS USING A SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPE, Applied physics letters, 68(25), 1996, pp. 3632-3634
Systematic modifications on the nanometer scale of YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YB
CO) epitaxial, thin films have been achieved by using a scanning tunne
ling microscope in air at room temperature. Working with tunneling par
ameters slightly above those used for imaging results in irreversible,
nanometer-sized surface modifications. The surface topography of our
YBCO films showed characteristic growth spirals, of which one revealed
a remarkable ''S''-shaped top end. This unusual growth behavior indic
ates possibly a distortion caused by a line defect in the second to la
st turn of the spiral. We succeeded in cutting through this structure
by producing a 2.5 nm wide groove across it. This corresponds to the c
ontrolled removal of only a few unit cells of YBCO. As an alternative
modification technique, bias voltage pulses were applied, leading to t
he formation of 3 nm wide craters. (C) 1996 American Institute of Phys
ics.