REVERSIBLE LASER PATTERNING OF YBA2CU3O7-DELTA MICROBRIDGES

Thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-delta on MgO have been patterned using a laser writing technique based on the temperature increase in the focus of a laser beam. The corresponding local increase of the oxygen diffusion velocity can be employed to write reversibly deoxygenated (semiconduct ing) and reoxygenated (superconducting) patterns, if nitrogen or oxyge n, respectively, is chosen as ambient atmosphere. The fully planar mic robridges produced in this way have been characterized by electronic t ransport measurements, scanning probe microscopy and magnetooptics. Th e processed material exhibits the same superconducting properties as t he virgin films.