PROPERTIES OF YBCO THIN-FILMS ON VICINALLY POLISHED MGO SUBSTRATES

YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films were grown on vicinally polished MgO(001) substrates using a reactive rf-magnetron sputtering technique. We studied effects of vicinal cut on growth orientations and transport properties. The c-axis directions of all the films were strongly influenced by the substrate surface normal, with weak alignment to the substrate [001]MgO direction. No significant dependence of Tc's on vicinal angles was observed. However, Jc's were strongly degraded with vicinal angle. Jc's were also anisotropic to the vicinal direction. A vicinal cut affected the growth of YBCO films to increase a density of weak links.