Title: Enhancement of First Penetration Field in Superconducting Multi-layers Samples
Author: Claire Antoine
Institution: CEA
Abstract: In 2006 Gurevich proposed to use nanoscale layers of superconducting materials with high values of Hc > Hc (Nb) for magnetic shielding of bulk niobium to increase the breakdown field of Nb RF cavities.
We have deposited high quality “model” samples by DC magnetron reactive sputtering on R-plane cut sapphire substrates. A 250 nm layer of niobium figures the bulk material as in rf cavities. Such Nb layers were coated with a single or multiple stacks of NbN layers (25 nm or 12 nm) separated by 15 nm MgO barriers, and characterized by X-rays reflectivity and DC transport measurements.
The first magnetic penetration field HC1 has been measured with dc magnetization curves in a SQUID system and with a local probe method based on 3rd harmonic analysis. The Nb samples coated with NbN multi-layers clearly exhibit a higher first penetration field, and the screening effect of the NbN layer was evidenced.
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