Overdoped High Current Density Bi2-xPbxSr2CaCu2O8＋δ Intrinsic Josephson Junction Mesas and Their Switching Current Distributions

Small and thin mesa structures of intrinsic Josephson junctions 1- 2μm on a side and 1.5-7.5 nm in thickness are fabricated from single crystals of Bi2-xPbxSr2CaCu2O8＋δ with a nominal Pb content x from 0.2 to 0.5. The Josephson critical current density jc is found to be pronouncedly large, ranging from 10 to 50 kA/cm^2. Switching current probability measurements for these mesa samples show an indication of a crossover to the macroscopic quantum tunneling region.