Growth of epitaxial films

We have grown epitaxial films, n = 1, 2 and , by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and controlled their orientation by choosing appropriate substrates. The growth conditions yielding phase-pure films have been mapped out. Resistivity versus temperature measurements show that both a-axis and c-axis films of are metallic, but not superconducting. The latter is probably due to the presence of low-level impurities that are difficult to avoid given the target preparation process involved in growing these films by PLD.