Direct electrical heating of metal tape substrates for coated conductor deposition

A novel resistance heater, in which electrical current flowing directly through the metallic tape substrate induces the heating, was designed for the growth of high temperature superconductor tapes by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) films grown on RABiTS (rolling assisted bi-axially textured substrates) show properties similar to those of PLD-grown films on substrates that were mounted on a heater block using silver paint. The advantages of this electrical heating method are presented, including the easily adjustable angle between the substrate surface and the plume direction. No physical contact to the back of the substrate is required in the deposition area, eliminating problems related to thermal conductivity, heater block roughness, or the use of silver paint.