Angular dependence of the artificially induced anistropy in α-axis-oriented EuBa_2Cu_3O_7/PrBa_2Cu_3O_7 superconducting superlattices

Abstract

α-axis-oriented EuBa_2Cu_3O_7/PrBa_2Cu_3O_7 (EBCO/PBCO) superlattices allow us to separate contributions to the anisotropy coming from the natural layered structure of EBCO from that introduced by the artificial layering with PBCO. The angular dependence of the critical current and resistivity in a magnetic field has been studied with different superlattice modulation lengths (strong coupling regime). The increase in the insulating PBCO layer thickness produces a crossover from an a-axis-oriented three-dimensional (3D) superconductor with a distribution of planar pinning centers to a 3D superconductor with an angular anisotropy behavior similar to single-phase c-axis-oriented films.