Transport Properties of YBa ₂ Cu ₃ O ₇ /PrBa ₂ Cu ₃ O ₇ Superlattices

Abstract

We investigated the transport properties of high-quality YBa2Cu3O7/PrBa2Cu3O7 superlattices. The exceptional structural order of the superlattices resulted in satellite peaks up to the ninth order in x-ray diffraction diagrams and high Tc values. We find high superconducting critical transport current densities jc even for ultrafine modulated superlattices which proves the existence of nearly continuous YBa2Cu3O7 layers. The activation energy U is found to be constant or to have a linear temperature dependence over a wide temperature range.