High-resolution superconducting X-ray spectrometers with an active area of 282 /spl mu/m/spl times/282 /spl mu/m

Author

Mears, C.A. ; Labov, S.E. ; Frank, M. ; Netel, H. ; Hiller, L.J. ; Lindeman, M.A. ; Chow, D. ; Barfknecht, A.T.

Author_Institution

Phys. & Space Technol. Directorate, Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., CA, USA

Volume

7

Issue

2

fYear

1997

fDate

6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

3415

Lastpage

3418

Abstract

Superconducting tunnel junctions coupled to superconducting absorbers may be used as high-resolution, high-efficiency X-ray spectrometers. We have tested devices with niobium X-ray absorbing layers coupled to aluminum layers that serve as quasiparticle traps. In this work we measure the current pulses from a large-area tunnel junction using an amplifier based on an array of 100 SQUIDs. Using this amplifier and a 282 /spl mu/m/spl times/282 /spl mu/m junction, we have measured an energy resolution of 19 eV FWHM for 1.5 keV X-rays and 21 eV for 2.6 keV X-rays. The area of this junction is eight times the area of any junction previously measured to have such high energy resolution.

Keywords

SQUIDs; X-ray detection; X-ray spectrometers; niobium; superconducting junction devices; superconducting particle detectors; 1.5 keV; 2.6 keV; 282 mum; Al layers; Nb X-ray absorbing layers; Nb-SiO/sub 2/-Al; SQUID array amplifier; active area; current pulses; energy resolution; high-resolution superconducting X-ray spectrometers; large-area tunnel junction; quasiparticle traps; superconducting absorbers; superconducting tunnel junctions; Aluminum; Energy measurement; Energy resolution; Josephson junctions; Niobium; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse measurements; Spectroscopy; Superconducting epitaxial layers; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.622114

Filename

622114