Critical parameters in the molecular beam epitaxy growth of Bi₂Sr₂Ca_n-1Cu_nO_yand (Sr, Ca)_mCu_nO_ysuperconductor thin films

Abstract

The molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of Bi2Sr2Can-1CunOy (BSCCO) and (Sr, Ca)mCunOy `infinite layer' (IL) thin films is reviewed. After introducing the interest in these materials the paper outlines the adaptations necessary to grow cuprate superconductors in an MBE system, isolates six critical parameters for such growths and examines how they are adjusted in order to obtain highly oriented films with elevated TC for various BSCCO and IL phases investigated during the decade in which the subject has been studied. Particular emphasis is given to control of the growth modes and mechanisms for each constituent layer through use of reflection high-energy electron diffraction.