Nanostructured microsize YBCO mesas for applications as field sensors

Abstract: High-energy heavy-ion beams collimated by means of laser cut stainless-steel masks create microsize mesas surrounded by virgin regions into strip-shaped YBCO films. The ions induce columnar nanostructures whose density is tailored to generate locally weaker superconductivity. FESEM and AFM analyses show evidence of interface boundary regions with upward steps of about 20nm. The mesas exhibit magneto-resistive performances, functional to localize and confine external electromagnetic excitations. This leads to envisage a road map aimed at using just superconducting electrodynamics for electromagnetic detection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]