AFM nano-plough planar YBCO micro-bridges: critical currents and magnetic field effects

The critical current (Ic) of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) AFM plough micro-constrictions is measured as a function of temperature, width and the magnetic flux density (B), which was applied perpendicular to the YBCO ab-plane and surface of the bridges. C-axis oriented thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-x were deposited on MgO substrates using an inverted cylindrical magnetron (ICM) sputtering technique. The films were then patterned into 8-10 micron size strips, using standard photolithography and dry etching processes. Micro-bridges with widths between 1.9 microm to 4.1 microm were fabricated by using atomic force microscope (AFM) nanolithography techniques. Critical current versus temperature data shows a straight-line behavior, which is typical of constriction type Josephson junctions. The Ic versus B characteristics exhibited a modulation, and a suppression of the critical current of up to 84%. It was also found that the critical current increases with increasing constriction width.