Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy studies of growth spirals and particulates on YBa2CU3O7-x thin films prepared by laser ablation

摘要

Surface morphology and tunneling behaviour of the growth spirals and particulates on laser ablated YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) thin films have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS). STM image observations confirm that material removal by laser ablation undergoes an explosive process and most of particulates on film surfaces are a direct products of this process. STS studies show that the electronic properties of these particulates differ from that of the surrounding growth spirals. [References: 2]