Physics of thin films

This book of Physics of Thin Films emphasizes two main technical themes. The first is essentially an extension of the topical thrust on Thin Films for Advance Electronic Devices, developed in Volume 15 of this series. The second deals primarily with the physical and mechanical behavior of films and the influence of these in relation to various applications. The first of the four articles in this volume, by Neelkanth G. Dhere, discusses high-transition-temperature (Tc) superconducting films. Since their discovery in 1986, both world-wide research activity and published literature on high-Tc oxide films have exploded at a phenomenal rate. In his treatment, the author presents an effective survey of the already vast literature on this subject, discusses the numerous techniques under development for the growth of these perovskite-related complex oxides, and describes their key properties and applications. In particular, factors affecting the epitaxial structure, critical current capability, and microwave conductivity in Y-Ba-Cu-O and Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O based film compositions are evaluated in relation to their use at 77K. An overview of potential applications in a variety of microwave devices, wide-band optical detectors, SQUID-type high-sensitivity magnetometers, etc., is included