Vortex-creep activation energy in YBa2Cu3O7/PrBa2Cu3O7 superlattices

Abstract YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 /PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO/PBCO) superlattices with a different ratio of the superconducting and insulating layer thicknesses were prepared by high pressure dc sputtering. The vortex-creep activation energy U 0 was determined by analyzing the in-plane resistive transition of 200 μm wide bridges with the external magnetic field B oriented along the c axis. It was found that U 0 is proportional to the thickness of the YBCO layers, and does only weakly depend on the PBCO layer thickness, when the latter exceeds two unit cells. We observed a change in the variation of U 0 with the current I in the specimen: U 0 exhibits a plateau in the low- I region, then decreases signific…