Gamma-ray superconducting detector based on Abrikosov vortices: Principle of operation

Journal Article · Sat Nov 14 23:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3236662· OSTI ID:21361933

Lisitskiy, M P ^[1]

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1. Istituto di Cibernetica 'Eduardo Caianiello' del C.N.R., Via Campi Flegrei 34, I-80078, Pozzuoli, Naples (Italy) and INFN, Sezione di Napoli, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Naples (Italy)

The high atomic number of some superconducting elements such as niobium (Z=41) and tantalum (Z=73) and a high material thickness (e.g., t=300 mum) are emphasized as essential properties for development of a gamma-ray solid state detector with high intrinsic detection efficiency in the energy range up to 100 keV. To exploit these properties, a new detection principle based on the interaction of a single gamma-ray photon with Abrikosov vortex is proposed. The interaction of gamma-ray photon with a superconductor is discussed in terms of the photoelectric absorption and a hot-spot formation, the last acts as a short-time pinning center on an Abrikosov vortex and activates its motion, namely, a jump or damped vibration. Both types of vortex motion lead to variation (either static or dynamic) in the magnetic field on the absorber surface. The high sensitivity of the Josephson tunneling to weak magnetic field can be exploited for revealing the magnetic field variation and to make the readout of the detector. Main intrinsic properties of a gamma-ray detector based on Abrikosov vortices are evaluated, including the possibility to measure the energy deposited in the detector. A single Josephson tunnel junction configuration or a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) configuration is proposed and discussed as possible realization of working gamma-ray detector both in the counter operation mode and in the radiation spectroscopy operation mode.

• OSTI ID: 21361933
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 106; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION
ATOMIC NUMBER
BOSONS
DETECTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUXMETERS
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA RADIATION
HOT SPOTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
JOSEPHSON EFFECT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
NIOBIUM
PHOTONS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
READOUT SYSTEMS
REFRACTORY METALS
SENSITIVITY
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
SQUID DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TANTALUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNNEL EFFECT