Off-axis sputter deposition of thin films

Currently there are several techniques for making high Tc thin films, e.g., sputter deposition, laser ablation, coevaporation (including MBE), chemical vapor deposition and solution coating/pyrolysis. Of these techniques, the authors have demonstrated that high-pressure in-situ off-axis rf-magnetron sputter deposition is a simple, relatively inexpensive process capable of reproducibly yielding YBCO superconducting thin films with excellent surface resistance properties. This article describes the off-axis technique, the basic equipment requirements and the performance characteristics of high Tc superconductor films produced using this technique