Development of Ta-based Superconducting Tunnel Junction X-ray Detectors for Fluorescence XAS

Journal Article · Wed Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3463152· OSTI ID:21410212

Friedrich, Stephan; Drury, Owen B ^[1]; Hall, John; Cantor, Robin ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Advanced Detector Group, 7000 East Ave., L-188, Livermore, CA 94550 (United States)
2. STAR Cryoelectronics, 25-A Bisbee Court, Santa Fe, NM 87508 (United States)

We are developing superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) soft X-ray detectors for chemical analysis of dilute samples by fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Our 36-pixel Nb-based STJ spectrometer covers a solid angle {Omega}/4{pi}{approx_equal}10{sup -3}, offers an energy resolution of {approx}10-20 eV FWHM for energies up to {approx}1 keV, and can be operated at total count rates of {approx}10{sup 6} counts/s. For increased quantum efficiency and cleaner response function, we have now started the development of Ta-based STJ detector arrays. Initial devices modeled after our Nb-based STJs have an energy resolution below 10 eV FWHM for X-ray energies below 1 keV, and pulse rise time discrimination can be used to improve their response function for energies up to several keV. We discuss the performance of the Ta-STJs and outline steps towards the next-generation of large STJ detector arrays with higher sensitivity.

• OSTI ID: 21410212
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1234, Issue 1; Conference: SRI 2009: 10. international conference on radiation instrumentation, Melbourne (Australia), 27 Sep - 2 Oct 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3463152; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
COUNTING RATES
ENERGY RESOLUTION
FLUORESCENCE
NIOBIUM COMPOUNDS
PULSE RISE TIME
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SENSITIVITY
SOFT X RADIATION
SOLIDS
SPECTROMETERS
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
THALLIUM COMPOUNDS
TUNNEL EFFECT
X-RAY DETECTION
X-RAY SPECTRA
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
DETECTION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
FUNCTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINESCENCE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHOTON EMISSION
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
RESOLUTION
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
TIMING PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
X RADIATION