Effort in Coated Conductors Underway

BELTSVILLE, MD, September 18, 2000 – Neocera, Inc. a leader in the research and development of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technology, has another first in the industry.

The Company recently delivered the first commercial high-throughput production PLD system for high temperature superconductor (HTS) film production to a company involved in developing HTS thin films for the telecommunications industry.

HTS thin film technology is currently incorporated in several telecommunications networks. Microwave filters using HTS thin film technology can deliver unprecedented performance, with very high frequency selectivity and low insertion losses. To meet the rapid increase in wireless users, key HTS companies have increased their production volume of HTS films. Some have chosen PLD as the preferred high throughput manufacturing technique.

“In addition to its application in the telecommunications field, PLD systems are also being utilized in the infrared detection field,” said Harsh Harshavardhan, Director, Research & Development for Neocera. “We have expanded our in-house PLD capabilities, to manufacture both HTS and non-HTS oxide materials for a number of customers, including NASA.”

NEOCERA FIRST COMMERICAL PLD

Tape heaters for HTS coated conductors

HTS coated conductors (tapes) are being manufactured for high current applications, such as power transmission lines, transformers and DC motors. One of the critical components of this technology is the substrate (tape) heater. As a market leader in PLD deposition accessories, Neocera provides solutions to a variety of HTS coated conductor needs.

“Neocera believes that PLD is ideal for the manufacture of these superconductor tapes and is developing the appropriate hardware and processes,” said Harshavardhan.

For more than a decade, Neocera has focused strong science resources on clearly define customer needs to develop reliable and innovative products. In addition to PLD systems and accessories, the Company manufactures magnetic imaging microscopes, microwave microscopes, cryogenic instruments and complex thin film materials.