Fabrication of nanoscale Josephson junctions and Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID) is very promising but challenging topic in the superconducting electronics and device technology. In order to achieve best sensitivity of SQUIDs and to reproduce them easily with a straightforward method, new fabrication techniques for realization of nanoSQUIDs needs to be investigated. This study concentrates on investigation of new fabrication methodology for manufacturing nanoSQUIDs with High Temperature Bi-Crystal Grain Boundary Josephson Junctions fabricated onto SrTiO3 bi-crystal substrates using YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) thin-films. In this process nanoscale patterning of YBCO was realized by using electron beam patterning and physical dry etching of YBCO thin films on STO substrates. YBCO thin films were deposited using RF magnetron sputtering technique in the mixture of Ar and O2 gases and followed by annealing at high temperatures in O2 atmosphere. Structural characterization of YBCO thin films was done by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). Superconducting properties of thin films was characterized by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. Nanoscale structures on YBCO thin films were fabricated by one E-Beam Lithography (EBL) step followed by Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and physical dry etching. First SiO2 thin film were deposited on YBCO by RF magnetron sputtering and it was patterned by EBL using Polystyrene (PS) as resist material and RIE. Then SiO2 was used as an etch mask for physical dry etching of YBCO and nanoscale structures on YBCO were formed.

This thesis describes a research of suppression of superconducting gap in a superconducting island of a Ferromagnetic-Superconducting-Ferromagnetic Single-Electron-Transistor due to the fringing magnetic fields produced by the ferromagnetic leads. The devices are working below the critical temperature of the superconducting gap. A model is proposed to explain how the fringing magnetic field produced by the leads is strong enough to suppress the superconducting gap. The peak of the fringing magnetic field produced by one lead reaches 5000 oe. It is observed an inverse tunneling magneto resistance during the suppression of the superconducting gap, obtaining a maximum absolute value 500 times greater than the TMR in the normal state where the efficiency of the spin injection is low. It is concluded that the suppression of the superconducting gap is due to fringing magnetic field and not to the spin accumulation because the low efficiency of the spin injection. It is suggested a new geometry to reduce the effect of the fringing magnetic field so it can be obtained a suppression of the superconductivity due to the spin accumulation. It is described the qualitatively behavior of the IV characteristic when the suppression of the superconductivity is due to spin accumulation.

Thin-film niobium mechanically controlled break junctions and resistively shunted niobium mechanically-controlled break junctions were developed and successfully microfabricated. Using these devices, high-stability atomic size contacts were routinely produced and investigated both in the normal and superconducting states. Investigations of the two-level conductance fluctuations in the smallest contacts allowed the calculation of their specific atomic structure. Embedding resistive shunts close to the superconducting atomic-sized junctions affected the coherence of the electronic transport. Finally, point contact spectroscopy measurements provide evidence of the interaction of conduction electrons with the mechanical degrees of freedom of the atomic-size niobium contacts.

No description available.

<p>Although a superconductor has zero resistivity when carrying a direct current, losses do occur when it is exposed to an alternating magnetic field and/or is carrying an alternating current. The magnitude of these so-called AC losses depends on the operating temperature, the amplitude and the direction of the magnetic field, the transport current, and the frequency. Therefore, the use of high-temperature superconductors, HTSs, in electric power components such as cables, transformers or reactors, requires knowledge of the AC losses.</p><p>This thesis deals with the development of AC loss models for HTSs, mainly for Bi-2223 tapes. In particular, the orientation of the applied magnetic field is taken into account in the modelling. The basis for the models is the results of experimental investigations.</p><p>The basic concepts of HTSs with special emphasis on the modelling of AC losses are presented. These can be broken down into several components. Their sources and natures are described. One of the components is the hysteretic loss and it is the dominating loss in AC applications at power frequencies. Therefore, the other loss components are neglected in the modelling.</p><p>Models are presented and the associated parameters are investigated with respect to their dependence of the magnetic field as well as the temperature. The AC losses for parallel and perpendicular magnetic field with respect to the wide side of the tape are calculated numerically. Moreover, a semi-empirical model for intermediate angels of the applied magnetic field is proposed. The comparisons show good agreement with experimental results.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b> High-temperature superconductors, AC loss modelling, hysteresis, E-J characteristic.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-142). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-128). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-128). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-142). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Justin Schwartz, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 17, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.