An off-axis magnetron-sputtering system for in situ studies of artificial superlattices growth by synchrotron radiation scattering

A sputtering chamber for the growth of artificial superlattices of oxide-based materials is described. The chamber is designed to fit into a standard Huber eight-circle diffractometer. The chamber serves for investigation with synchrotron radiation of growth characteristics of oxide-based artificial superlattices in situ. Two Be windows of large area in the vacuum chamber enable measurement of reflections of X-rays at entrance and exit angles up to ∼50°. Large perpendicular momentum transfers are practical with this apparatus. The possibility of investigating X-ray scattering in situ is demonstrated by observation of the effects of the modulation length and the stacking period on the growth characteristics of BaTiO₃/LaNiO₃ artificial superlattices.