Structures in superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films investigated by magneto-optic technique

Using a reflection magneto-optic technique we have investigated natural inhomogeneities and artificial structures in YBCO thin films exposed to an external magnetic field. The artificial structures were mechanically scratched by scanning a diamond tip with different loading over the film surface. Alternatively planar structures with reduced oxygen content could be patterned by heating the YBCO film with a focused laser beam in nitrogen atmosphere. Depending on the laser annealing parameters different screening properties concerning the applied magnetic field could be achieved. As a magneto-optically active layer we used EuS films evaporated on glass as well as bismuth- and gallium-doped lutetium-iron-garnet films grown onto (111) oriented gadolinium-gallium-garnet substrates by liquid phase epitaxy. In contrast to measurements with EuS films that show only weak fara day rotation for temperatures higher than 20 K the magneto-optic studies have been expanded to about 60 K by using the garnet films.