Weak-link behavior in superconducting thick films

The surface impedance of melt-processed thick films of YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x on yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates has been measured as a function of temperature over the frequency range 9–18 GHz using an endwall replacement technique. The temperature dependence of both the penetration depth and the surface resistance of thisp-type cuprate system can be described within a two-gap weak-link model. The surface resistance scaled to 10 GHz by the observedf ² frequency dependence gives a value of 1.8 m at 77 K, which compares favorably with the lowest reported values for thick films of this material at microwave frequencies. Trends in material processing indicate that increasing the grain size would further decrease the surface resistance at microwave frequencies.