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 um × 282 (im 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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3415-3418 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 2 PART 3 |
State | Published - Dec 1 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering