Pulsed Laser Deposition of YBCO for Coated Conductor Applications: Current Status and Cost Issues

This book chapter reviews the current status of Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) for coated conductor applications of YBCO on metallic tapes. Clearly, PLD is one of the most promising techniques - particularly for thick films - and has led to some of the highest critical currents Jc. The reputation of PLD as being an expensive technique for manufacturing is carefully addressed by calculating the laser operation cost per length of tape. It is shown that the expenses related to the ownership and operation of an industrial excimer laser (including, most importantly, laser tubes and window sets) contribute $10/kA m - $30/kA m to the cost of a superconducting tape. Significant lowering of this number would require "quantum-leap" changes in laser technology, PLD configuration, or an increase in the achieved Jc.