Structural properties and magnetoresistance of La1.952Sr0.048CuO4 thin films

The evolution of the structural and transport properties of underdoped La 1.952 Sr 0.048 CuO 4 thin films under a compressive epitaxial strain has been studied. The films of different thicknesses d (from 26 nm to 120 nm) were deposited using an insulating target. The onset of superconductivity in the films is observed at temperatures as high as 26 K, while small residual resistance persists at low temperatures, indicating that superconductivity is inhomogeneous. The resistance measured under a perpendicular magnetic field saturates below about 0.65 K, suggesting a possible existence of nonconventional metallic state. The magnetic-field-tuned quasi-superconductor to insulator transition is observed at a magnetic field of about 32 T.The evolution of the structural and transport properties of underdoped La 1.952 Sr 0.048 CuO 4 thin films under a compressive epitaxial strain has been studied. The films of different thicknesses d (from 26 nm to 120 nm) were deposited using an insulating target. The onset of superconductivity in the films is observed at temperatures as high as 26 K, while small residual resistance persists at low temperatures, indicating that superconductivity is inhomogeneous. The resistance measured under a perpendicular magnetic field saturates below about 0.65 K, suggesting a possible existence of nonconventional metallic state. The magnetic-field-tuned quasi-superconductor to insulator transition is observed at a magnetic field of about 32 T.