Abstract
The properties of films of the superconducting ceramic BiSrCaCuO produced using a free-lasing Nd: YAG laser operated at 1.604 mu m are shown to exhibit wide compositional changes depending on the temperature of the substrate during deposition. Temperatures above 500 degree C result in bismuth-poor films, whilst temperatures below 300 degree C give bismuth-rich films. The variation in composition leads to radically altered electrical properties. The optimum composition is obtained at 450 degree C and gives superconduction films with zero resistance at 80 K and critical current densities of 34 kA cm super(-2) at 4.2 K.