Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1999

Publisher

American Institute of Physics

Abstract

We have measured the effects of dilute magnetic-atom doping on the superconducting transition temperature of tungsten thin films. Our “Tc tuning” technique is accurate, precise, and simple. Experiments were performed using dc-magnetron-sputtered tungsten films with undoped values of Tc in the range of 70–150 mK. The magnetic-atom doping was achieved using ion implantation. Specific Tc suppressions of between 5% and 65% were targeted and observed in this study. The transition width of each undoped sample was ≈1 mK and the transition widths remained sharp after implantation with 56Fe+ ions. Our data are in good agreement with predictions of a linear dependence of Tc suppression with increasing magnetic-atom concentration, in the small concentration limit. At higher concentrations, antiferromagnetic coupling between the magnetic dopant atoms becomes important and the Tc-suppression effect is diminished. We use our Tc data to calculate the Abrikosov–Gor’kov (AG) and Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) spin–flip relaxation parameters τAG and τRKKY. We conclude with a brief discussion of applications of the Tc-tuning technique, and present our plans for future studies in this area.

Comments

Copyright © 1999 American Institute of Physics Publishing. Reprinted with permission.

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