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Article
Measurement of Tc suppression in tungsten using magnetic impurities
Physics
  • Betty A. Young, Santa Clara University
  • T. Saab
  • Blas Cabrera
  • J. J. Cross
  • R. M. Clarke
  • R. A. Abusaidi
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-1999
Publisher
American Institute of Physics
Disciplines
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.

Citation Information
Young, B. A., Saab, T., Cabrera, B., Cross, J. J., Clarke, R. M., & Abusaidi, R. A. (1999). Measurement of Tc suppression in tungsten using magnetic impurities. Journal of Applied Physics, 86(12), 6975–6978. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.371781