Title :
Low-energy response of superconducting tunnel junction X-ray spectrometers
Author :
Labov, S.E. ; Hiller, L.H. ; Mears, C.A. ; Frank, M. ; Netel, H. ; Azgui, F. ; Barfknecht, A.T.
Author_Institution :
Lab. for Exp. Astrophys., Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., CA, USA
fDate :
6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Thin film structures incorporating metallic superconducting layers and tunnel junctions can be configured as low-energy X-ray spectrometers. We present results obtained when low-energy X-rays are absorbed in niobium films coupled to aluminum layers that serve as quasiparticle traps in an Nb/Al/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//Al/Nb tunnel junction X-ray detector. The linearity of the pulse height as a function of energy Is discussed along with the energy dependence of the observed resolution and its relation to the broadening mechanisms. A resolution of 14 eV at 1 keV has been measured with our detector cooled to 0.3 K.<>
Keywords :
X-ray detection; X-ray spectrometers; superconducting particle detectors; 0.3 K; 1 keV; Nb-Al-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Al-Nb; Nb/Al/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//Al/Nb junction; X-ray spectrometers; aluminum layers; energy resolution; low-energy response; niobium films; pulse height linearity; quasiparticle traps; superconducting tunnel junction; thin film structures; Aluminum; Energy resolution; Josephson junctions; Linearity; Niobium; Spectroscopy; Superconducting epitaxial layers; Superconducting films; Superconducting thin films; X-ray detectors;
Journal_Title :
Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on
