Preparation, characterisation and transport properties of epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7/REBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) superlattices

In order to investigate the magnetic interaction between the vortex lattice and the rare earth in high temperature superconductors, measurements on YBa2Cu3O7/GdBa2Cu3O7 superlattices were performed. Resistive transitions in applied magnetic field up to 6 Tesla in the orientations B parallel to c and B perpendicular to c were analysed in order to obtain the activation energy. The magnetic field dependence of the activation energy shows clear deviations from the typical three dimensional behaviour. The critical current density or rather the pinning force density shows scaling behaviour in agreement with predictions due to the flux creep theory.