High-energy-resolution x-ray detection using multilayered superconducting tunnel junctions

Edward D. Rippert; Shenian N. Song; Stevan R. Maglic; Susanne Lomatch; Jennifer F. Wang; Jun Chen; Christopher D. Thomas; John B. Ketterson; Melville P. Ulmer

doi:10.1117/12.179163

29 June 1994 High-energy-resolution x-ray detection using multilayered superconducting tunnel junctions

Edward D. Rippert, Shenian N. Song, Stevan R. Maglic, Susanne Lomatch, Jennifer F. Wang, Jun Chen, Christopher D. Thomas, John B. Ketterson, Melville P. Ulmer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2157, Superconducting Superlattices and Multilayers; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.179163
Event: OE/LASE '94, 1994, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

Superconducting tunnel junctions have a potential, statistically limited, energy resolution on the order of eV's. The best results to date, however, have been an order of magnitude worse than this and required operating temperatures on the order of 0.1 K. Niobium based junctions operating at approximately 1 K have shown X-ray detection capabilities, but have only achieved energy resolutions on the order of 100 eV's at best. Several mechanisms, including quasiparticle self trapping, loss of `hot' excitations, quasiparticle recombination, and loss of `cold' excitations, have been proposed to explain the degradation of energy resolution in these devices. We will present a design concept for an X-ray detector, along with recent experimental and computer modeling results, based on a 1D superlattice of superconducting tunnel junctions. This multilayered superconducting tunnel junction design has the potential for alleviating many of the potential resolution degrading mechanisms while operating in the 1 K temperature range. In addition, the possibility of engineering the device to improve the signal to noise ratio of the output and to control the transport of phonons in the structure will be discussed.

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Edward D. Rippert, Shenian N. Song, Stevan R. Maglic, Susanne Lomatch, Jennifer F. Wang, Jun Chen, Christopher D. Thomas, John B. Ketterson, and Melville P. Ulmer "High-energy-resolution x-ray detection using multilayered superconducting tunnel junctions", Proc. SPIE 2157, Superconducting Superlattices and Multilayers, (29 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.179163

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