High field properties of superconducting BaFe_2-xNi_xAs₂ thin films

Fe based superconductors combine the advantages of cuprates (high upper critical field) with the small Hc₂ anisotropy of classic low temperature superconductors, which makes them suitable candidates for high field applications. The study of Fe-based superconducting thin films is one crucial step to explore this potential in more detail. We present results for epitaxial BaFe_2-xNi_xAs₂ thin films, which have been successfully grown for the first time using pulsed laser deposition. Superconducting transition temperatures of up to 19 K have been realized in slightly overdoped films, which is in good agreement with results obtained for single crystals. The behavior of the upper critical field and critical current density has been measured in high magnetic fields up to 35 T. The results will be correlated to the observed microstructure and compared to high field data for single crystals with similar composition.