Ion-beam modification of cuprate superconductors

The rapidly increasing demands on information and communication technology require novel materials, processes and devices for the "products and services of tomorrow" and a reduction in weight and power consumption. Miniaturization that is one of the evident aims of nanotechnology is frequently limited by other physical effects, for instance by the problem of heat generation and the problem of heat transport out of such miniaturized circuits. The most logical solution is to use superconducting materials and devices that either don`t exhibit dissipation at all, or, at least, reduce it by orders of magnitude. Since superconductors only operate far below ambient temperature, the issue of suitable cooling devices makes only the novel, so-called, high-temperature superconductors a realistic choice for most commercial applications. Exciting possible devices with superconductors include ultrasensitive magnetic field sensors, digital to analog converters, high-frequency filters and mixers, superfast digital and computer circuits and maybe even quantum computers. An essential prerequisite to produce such devices in a commercially viable process is a method for the systematical and reproducible change of the main parameters of these novel materials and the ability to pattern structure sizes smaller than hundred nanometers. Methods for the nano-patterning of high-temperature superconductors are rare, and mostly only suited for laboratory usage. In this research project, we will investigate the prospects for systematically modifying the electric and magnetic properties of high-temperature superconductors and related novel materials by ion-beam irradiation with moderate energy. Preliminary experiments indicated that the electric properties can be systematically and reproducibly altered by irradiation-induced point defects and artificial periodic nano-structures can be created by masked-ion beam direct structuring. The physical effects of ion-beam irradiation on various properties of high-temperature superconductors will be investigated and the resulting expertise used to develop a method for the photoresist-less, direct patterning of superconducting nanostructures with novel properties. The research will be performed in a collaboration between the Universities of Vienna and Linz, and the Viennese company IMS Nanofabrication GmbH.

The rapidly increasing demands on information and communication technology require novel materials, processes and devices for the "products and services of tomorrow" and a reduction in weight and power consumption. Miniaturization that is one of the evident aims of nanotechnology is frequently limited by other physical effects, for instance by the problem of heat generation and the problem of heat transport out of such miniaturized circuits. The most logical solution is to use superconducting materials and devices that either don`t exhibit dissipation at all, or, at least, reduce it by orders of magnitude. Since superconductors only operate far below ambient temperature, the issue of suitable cooling devices makes only the novel, so-called, high-temperature superconductors a realistic choice for most commercial applications. Exciting possible devices with superconductors include ultrasensitive magnetic field sensors, digital to analog converters, high-frequency filters and mixers, superfast digital and computer circuits and maybe even quantum computers. An essential prerequisite to produce such devices in a commercially viable process is a method for the systematical and reproducible change of the main parameters of these novel materials and the ability to pattern structure sizes smaller than hundred nanometers. Methods for the nano-patterning of high-temperature superconductors are rare, and mostly only suited for laboratory usage. In this research project, we will investigate the prospects for systematically modifying the electric and magnetic properties of high-temperature superconductors and related novel materials by ion-beam irradiation with moderate energy. Preliminary experiments indicated that the electric properties can be systematically and reproducibly altered by irradiation-induced point defects and artificial periodic nano-structures can be created by masked-ion beam direct structuring. The physical effects of ion-beam irradiation on various properties of high-temperature superconductors will be investigated and the resulting expertise used to develop a method for the photoresist-less, direct patterning of superconducting nanostructures with novel properties. The research will be performed in a collaboration between the Universities of Vienna and Linz, and the Viennese company IMS Nanofabrication GmbH.