Title :
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
fDate :
6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
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;
Journal_Title :
Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on
