Micromachining of a high-temperature superconductor for field ion microscopy

Micromachining of a high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) for a field ion microscopy cathode has been developed. The shape of emitters is identical to the shape of typical metal tip specimens used in field ion microscopy. The cathode shape obtained is optimal for studying HTSC by the field emission technique. It allows one to analyse the real atomic structure and local chemical composition of a HTSC in the process of precision field evaporation of thousands of monatomic surface layers.