Application of crystal absorbers coupled to superconducting tunnel junctions for the measurement of x rays

Christian Erd; Abel Poelaert; Peter Verhoeve; Nicola Rando; Anthony J. Peacock

doi:10.1117/12.218383

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1 September 1995 Application of crystal absorbers coupled to superconducting tunnel junctions for the measurement of x rays

Christian Erd, Abel Poelaert, Peter Verhoeve, Nicola Rando, Anthony J. Peacock

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Proceedings Volume 2518, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.218383
Event: SPIE's 1995 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1995, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The possibility of using superconducting tunnelling junctions (STJ) coupled to a crystal absorber for x-ray spectroscopy has been investigated in the range 1 to 22 keV. Photo- electrons created as a result of the x-ray photo-absorption in a suitable crystal will give rise to phonon production in the crystal-absorber. A matrix of STJs mounted on this absorber can be used essentially as microphones to detect these phonons. The total energy detected by the matrix provides a measure of the absorbed photon's energy while the distribution through the matrix provides the spatial resolution. The use of a suitable crystal absorber should significantly improve the efficiency at higher energies. This is a serious limitation which faces STJs, when used to directly absorb the radiation above a few keV.

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Christian Erd, Abel Poelaert, Peter Verhoeve, Nicola Rando, and Anthony J. Peacock "Application of crystal absorbers coupled to superconducting tunnel junctions for the measurement of x rays", Proc. SPIE 2518, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, (1 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.218383

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