Abstract: A method, and the resulting structure, of growing a superconducting perovskite thin film of, for example YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x. A buffer layer of, for example, the perovskite PrBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y, is grown on a crystalline (001) substrate under conditions which favor growth of a,b-axis oriented material. Then the YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x layer is deposited on the buffer layer under changed growth conditions that favor growth of c-axis oriented material on the substrate, for example, the substrate temperature is raised by 110.degree. C. However, the buffer layer acts as a template that forces the growth of a,b-axis YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x, which nonetheless shows a superconducting transition temperature near that of c-axis oriented films.

Abstract: A method, and the resulting structure, of growing a superconducting perovskite thin film of, for example, YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x. A buffer layer of, for example, the perovskite PrBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y, is grown on a crystalline (001) substrate under conditions which favor growth of a,b-axis oriented material. Then the YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x layer is deposited on the buffer layer under changed growth conditions that favor growth of c-axis oriented material on the substrate, for example, the substrate temperature is raised by 110.degree. C. However, the buffer layer acts as a template that forces the growth of a,b-axis YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x, which nonetheless shows a superconducting transition temperature near that of c-axis oriented films.

Abstract: A superconducting device and method of making in which a superconducting YBaCuO layer is laser deposited on a SrTiO.sub.3 or similar substrate such that the c-axis of the YBaCuO layer is vertically aligned with that of the substrate. A non-superconducting layer of PrBaCuO or MgO is laser deposited on the superconducting layer and another superconducting YBaCuO layer is laser deposited on the non-superconducting layer with the c-axes of all the layers being aligned. Contacts are applied to the two superconducting layers to form a junction device across the non-superconducting layer, which acts as a barrier layer.

Abstract: A scanning tunneling microscope with a stage capable of coarse motion in the horizontal (or X Y) plane and also capable of fine or scanning motion in the X, Y and Z directions. The stage comprises a square array of nine blocks connected by twelve PZTs, with clamping feet on the four corner blocks. The clamping feet can be electrically clamped to a horizontal surface. The underside of the center block holds the surface to be studied. By selectively clamping pairs of the feet and expanding and contracting groups of the PZts, the stage can be made to walk anywhere on the horizontal surface. A tunneling tip is supported atop a novel vertical crawler which is mounted in a vertical bore in a base unit. The vertical crawler provides coarse Z-axis positioning. Scanning or fine motion is achieved by clamping all four of the stage's feet while groups of the PZTs which connect the blocks are selectively activated.