Structural, transport and magnetic characterization of Nd/sub 1-x/Sr/sub x/MnO/sub 3//YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ heterostructures

Heteroepitaxial growth of multilayer thin films of Nd/sub 1-x/Sr/sub x/MnO/sub 3//YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ (NSMO/YBCO) by high pressure sputtering for two doping level of NSMO system is reported. Multilayers containing NSMO oxide layer with lower Curie temperature (with lower doping level) show higher superconducting transition temperatures for fixed YBCO layer thickness. Such observations indicate that the proximity effect in NSMO/YBCO interfaces has a significant influence on the superconducting transition temperature of YBCO layers. Magnetization loops shows the coexistence of superconducting and ferromagnetic order at nm length scale.