Skip to main content

NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Faster recovery time of a hot-electron transition-edge sensor by use of normal metal heat-sinks

Published

Author(s)

Brice R. Calkins, Adriana E. Lita, Anna E. Fox, Sae Woo Nam

Abstract

Transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters with recovery times near 1 mu s have become highly desirable in quantum science applications as near-infrared single-photon detectors with photon-number resolving capability. Previously, the recovery times of these devices could be decreased only by changing device material or modifying the superconducting-to-normal transition. We demonstrate a method for improving this speed that uses a normal-metal heat-sink. This demonstration with tungsten devices realizes a factor of 4 decrease in recovery time without significantly affecting energy resolution. Our approach may enable the creation of high-efficiency transition-edge sensors with decay times short enough to operate with 80 MHz pulsed single-photon sources.
Citation
Applied Physics Letters
Volume
99
Issue
24

Keywords

Single photon, transition edge sensor

Citation

Calkins, B. , Lita, A. , Fox, A. and Nam, S. (2011), Faster recovery time of a hot-electron transition-edge sensor by use of normal metal heat-sinks, Applied Physics Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3659686 (Accessed October 10, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created December 12, 2011, Updated November 10, 2018
Was this page helpful?