Initial development of a superconducting crystal x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometer

Harrie Netel; Matthias Frank; Simon E. Labov; Geoffrey H. Campbell; Carl A. Mears; Lawrence J. Hiller; Mark A. Lindeman; E. Brunet

Initial development of a superconducting crystal x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometer

Harrie Netel, Matthias Frank, Simon E. Labov, Geoffrey H. Campbell, Carl A. Mears, Lawrence J. Hiller, Mark A. Lindeman, E. Brunet

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Superconducting tunnel junctions can be used as high resolution x-ray and gamma-ray detectors. Until recently, most results were from detectors that consisted of niobium and aluminum thin films deposited on insulating substrates. Typically Nb films with thicknesses of several hundred nanometers are used as absorbers. These thin film devices inherently suffer from poor quantum efficiency. To increase this efficiency a foil or a single crystal, which can be thicker and can have a larger area than the thin films, can be used as the superconducting absorber. We are working on using ultra-pure, high-Z, superconducting crystals as the x-ray and gamma-ray absorbers. We are planning to fabricate a detector which uses a 10 micrometer-thick Ta crystal as the absorber, which will have a quantum efficiency of greater than 99% at 6 keV. As a test of the different processing steps we fabricated Al/AlOx/Al superconducting tunnel junctions on top of a 30 micrometer thick Al foil. In this paper several of the fabrication issues involved are presented as well as the first results from the Al foil test devices.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Editors	Oswald H. Siegmund, John V. Vallerga
Pages	244-248
Number of pages	5
Volume	2518
State	Published - Dec 1 1995
Externally published	Yes
Event	EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI - San Diego, CA, USA Duration: Jul 12 1995 → Jul 14 1995

Other

Other	EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI
City	San Diego, CA, USA
Period	7/12/95 → 7/14/95

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Condensed Matter Physics

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Initial development of a superconducting crystal x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometer. / Netel, Harrie; Frank, Matthias; Labov, Simon E.; Campbell, Geoffrey H.; Mears, Carl A.; Hiller, Lawrence J.; Lindeman, Mark A.; Brunet, E.

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. ed. / Oswald H. Siegmund; John V. Vallerga. Vol. 2518 1995. p. 244-248.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Netel, H, Frank, M, Labov, SE, Campbell, GH, Mears, CA, Hiller, LJ, Lindeman, MA & Brunet, E 1995, Initial development of a superconducting crystal x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometer. in OH Siegmund & JV Vallerga (eds), Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. vol. 2518, pp. 244-248, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, San Diego, CA, USA, 7/12/95.

Netel, Harrie ; Frank, Matthias ; Labov, Simon E. ; Campbell, Geoffrey H. ; Mears, Carl A. ; Hiller, Lawrence J. ; Lindeman, Mark A. ; Brunet, E. / Initial development of a superconducting crystal x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometer. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. editor / Oswald H. Siegmund ; John V. Vallerga. Vol. 2518 1995. pp. 244-248

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AB - Superconducting tunnel junctions can be used as high resolution x-ray and gamma-ray detectors. Until recently, most results were from detectors that consisted of niobium and aluminum thin films deposited on insulating substrates. Typically Nb films with thicknesses of several hundred nanometers are used as absorbers. These thin film devices inherently suffer from poor quantum efficiency. To increase this efficiency a foil or a single crystal, which can be thicker and can have a larger area than the thin films, can be used as the superconducting absorber. We are working on using ultra-pure, high-Z, superconducting crystals as the x-ray and gamma-ray absorbers. We are planning to fabricate a detector which uses a 10 micrometer-thick Ta crystal as the absorber, which will have a quantum efficiency of greater than 99% at 6 keV. As a test of the different processing steps we fabricated Al/AlOx/Al superconducting tunnel junctions on top of a 30 micrometer thick Al foil. In this paper several of the fabrication issues involved are presented as well as the first results from the Al foil test devices.

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