Abstract: A superconducting article including a flexible polycrystalline metal substrate, a layer of an adhesion layer material upon the surface of the flexible polycrystalline metal substrate, a layer of a cubic oxide material upon the adhesion layer material, the first layer of cubic oxide material deposited by ion beam assisted deposition, a layer of a buffer material upon the ion beam assisted deposited cubic oxide material layer, and, a layer of YBCO upon the buffer material layer is provided and has demonstrated J.sub.c 's of 1.3.times.10.sup.6 A/cm.sup.2, and I.sub.c 's of 120 Amperes across a sample 1 cm wide.

Abstract: A substrate heater for thin film deposition of metallic oxides upon a target substrate configured as a disk including means for supporting in a predetermined location a target substrate configured as a disk, means for rotating the target substrate within the support means, means for heating the target substrate within the support means, the heating means about the support means and including a pair of heating elements with one heater element situated on each side of the predetermined location for the target substrate, with one heater element defining an opening through which desired coating material can enter for thin film deposition and with the heating means including an opening slot through which the target substrate can be entered into the support means, and, optionally a means for thermal shielding of the heating means from surrounding environment is disclosed.