AbstractAbstract
[en] Finely layered Niobium/Germanium composites with unique physical and superconducting properties are discussed. These materials are studied as model systems for quasi-two-dimensional superconductors and have provided quantitative verification of dimensional crossover behavior in complete agreement with the Josephson-coupling theory. The composites consist of alternating sputter-deposited thin films of Nb and Ge. Individual layer thickness ranges from 5 A to 100 A; typical samples contain 50 Nb/Ge layer pairs of fixed thickness ratio. We have investigated the structural and transport properties of the composites as a function of layer thickness. Likewise the critical temperature and normal-state properties, including the heat capacity and density of states (inferred from critical field measurements), have been studied. Measurements have been made of the parallel upper critical fields below Tc and the fluctuation conductivity above Tc of samples with selected Ge thicknesses. These results have revealed a systematic variation in the dimensional nature of these systems both with Ge layer thickness and, in the quasi-2D systems, temperature. Systematic behavior in anomalous positive curvature of the perpendicular upper critical fields has been examined and discussed in the context of a possible manifestation of 2D vortex-lattice melting
Primary Subject
Source
1981; 169 p; University Microfilms Order No. 81-15,827; Thesis (Ph. D.).
Record Type
Report
Literature Type
Thesis/Dissertation
Country of publication
Descriptors (DEI)
Descriptors (DEC)
Reference NumberReference Number
INIS VolumeINIS Volume
INIS IssueINIS Issue