Process for the production of components from superconducting oxide ceramic materials.

摘要

A layer (2) of a material of substantially the same chemical composition as a known high Tc ceramic superconductor is formed on a substrate (1) by sputtering and is selectively irradiated with a laser beam (3) so as to define irradiated (4) and non-irradiated (5) regions. The sputtered layer (2) is disordered and has many lattice defects and imperfections and thus is basically non-superconducting, but by irradiation with a laser beam (3) the sputtered layer (2) is melted and then recrystallizes into an ordered and superconducting material. In another embodiment, the sputtered layer is already superconducting and is changed into a non-superconducting material by irradiation with a laser beam, said irradiation being carried out at a relatively low temperature in order to rapidly cool the irradiated portion and convert it into a disordered, non-superconducting state. A puferred substrate is chosen from the group containing YSZ, yttria and zirconia, which have thermal expansion coefficients substantially matching that of superconducting oxide materials.