Demonstration and modeling of an array-compatible TES microcalorimeter gamma-ray detector with 42 eV energy resolution at 103 keV

Published

September 20, 2006

Author(s)

Barry L. Zink, Joel Ullom, James A. Beall, Kent D. Irwin, W.Bertrand (Randy) Doriese, William Duncan, S. L. Ferreira, Gene C. Hilton, Rob Horansky, Carl D. Reintsema, Leila R. Vale

Abstract

We describe a microcalorimeter gamma-ray detector with measured energy resolution of 42 eV full width at half maximum for 103 keV photons. This detector consists of a thermally isolated superconducting transition-edge thermometer and a superconducting bulk tin photon absorber. The absorber is attached to the microcalorimeter using techniques compatible with producing arrays of high-resolution gamma-ray detector pixels. In addition to spectra of a Gd-153 calibration source, we present a detailed characterization of the microcalorimeter using measurements of the complex impedance, detector noise, and time-domain pulse response. The results suggest that a deeper understanding and optimization of the thermal transport between the absorber and thermometer could significantly improve the energy resolution of future detectors.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

89

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

gamma-ray detector, microcalorimeter, transition-edge sensor

Citation

Zink, B. , Ullom, J. , Beall, J. , Irwin, K. , Doriese, W. , Duncan, W. , Ferreira, S. , Hilton, G. , Horansky, R. , Reintsema, C. and Vale, L. (2006), Demonstration and modeling of an array-compatible TES microcalorimeter gamma-ray detector with 42 eV energy resolution at 103 keV, Applied Physics Letters (Accessed April 19, 2024)