GROWTH OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A-AXIS ORIENTED Y-BA-CU-OTHIN-FILMS ON (100)-LASRGAO4 SUBSTRATES

We have grown high quality a-axis oriented YBa2Cu3O7-x/PrBa2Cu3O7-y fi lms on (100) LaSrGaO4 substrates. We have optimized the crystalline or ientation and the superconducting properties of our films. We have per formed annealing studies on a- and c-axis films in vacuum and oxygen t o compare the oxygen depletion of the films and found that T-c degrada tion of a-axis films is comparable to that of c-axis films. To further optimize the a-axis films for trilayer junction fabrication, we signi ficantly reduced the surface roughness of the films by a gradual lower ing of oxygen pressure during the deposition.