Superconductivity of Thin Film Intermetallic Compounds
Abstract : Investigations of both the macroscopic and microscopic properties of thin film superconducting materials are being carried out. Compounds under study are either technologically significant or involve possible unique mechanisms for superconductivity whose realization may extend the range of critical parameters. Under study are low carrier density superconductors, selected Heavy Fermion Compounds and Chevrel phase superconductors. High-quality superconducting films of both PbTe(T1) and mixtures of La2S3-La3S4 have been prepared. These materials are low carrier density superconductors. This work is an important step in the direction of fabricating three-terminal superconducting (FET-like) devices. Films of UPt3 have been produced which exhibit superconductivity. The goal of demonstrating the nature of superconducting pairing in this heavy fermion compound using tunneling and the proximity effect is in sight. Domain wall superconductivity has been demonstrated in the ferromagnetic phase of HoMo6S8, a Chevrel phase compound which is a reentrant superconductor.