THIN-FILM PROCESSES FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS

Thin film processes have opened up new directions for research in the field of high-temperature superconductors, including the study of thei r fundamental physical properties, their application in electronics, a nd the synthesis of new superconducting compounds. In the past few yea rs great progress has been achieved. Uniform, double-sided wafers with large surface area are now being made for passive electronics compone nts. Advances in atomic layer engineering of precise heterostructures and multilayers are bringing forth a new generation of active devices. In spite of this progress, many challenges still remain in improving the control of thin film growth and understanding film microstructure.