3D-2D dimensional crossover in YBa2Cu3O7 films

Abstract

We show that, in fully oxidized YBa2Cu3O7 c-axis oriented films, the changes induced in the angular and field dependence of the magnetoresistivity ρab by increasing the temperature towards Tc are similar to those caused by a lowering in oxygen content. This remarkable behavior can be interpreted as due to a crossover from a three-dimensional to a two-dimensional system as T approaches Tc. Moreover, our critical current data mimic the behavior observed by Qi Li et al. in YBa2Cu3O7/(PrxY1−x)Ba2Cu3O7 multilayers, suggesting the possibility that chain planes are superconducting.