Artificial superlattices grown by MBE: Could we design novel superconductors?

We review briefly the technique of atomic-layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy (ALL-MBE) that allows us to deposit atomically smooth single-crystal thin films of cuprate superconductors and various other complex oxides. We give a couple of examples showing how this technique has been used to synthesize ‘artificial’ high-Tc superconductors – metastable high-n members of known cuprate families or superlattices of various known (natural, stable) compounds. We also report briefly on the present status of our state-of-the-art ALL-MBE system, and suggest that this technique could be useful in search for new natural or artificial superconducting materials.