YBCO-Coated Conductors Manufactured by High-Rate Pulsed Laser Deposition

Abstract

AbstractHigh-temperature superconductors of the second generation—coated conductors—are based on an architecture of YBCO films deposited on a well-textured substrate tape. The deposition technique used in the processing of YBCO films is responsible not only for both the resulting critical currents in the conductors and the cost efficiency of the employed production route, but also for the ultimate viability of the chosen technology. This article describes an advanced deposition method for YBCO films using high-rate pulsed laser deposition (HR-PLD).An elaborate variable azimuth ablation allows target roughening to be considerably reduced in the course of continuous deposition, and as a result, the integral deposition speed and speed stability can be increased to technologically interesting high values.Well-selected process parameters have been demonstrated to yield high currents of up to 480A/cm-width in short tapes and 360A/cm-width in 6-m-long tapes.Together with quasi-equilibrium heating, the HR-PLD method allows the processing of long-length YBCO-coated conductors and offers a cost-efficient route for their production on an industrial scale.