Superconductivity depression in ultrathin YBa2Cu3O7−δ layers in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7−δ superlattices

We report on the depression of the superconducting critical temperature of ultrathin YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) layers, when their thickness is reduced in the presence of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO) magnetic layers in [LCMO (15 unit cells)/YBCO (N unit cells)] superlattices. The thickness of the manganite layer is kept at 15 unit cells and the YBCO thickness is varied between N=12 and N=1 unit cells. The structural analysis, using x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, shows sharp interfaces with little structural disorder. While a critical temperature, TC=85 K, is found for 12 YBCO unit cells, superconductivity is completely suppressed for YBCO layer thickness below 3 unit cells. The possible interaction between superconductivity and magnetism is investigated.