Gamma-ray superconducting detector based on Abrikosov vortices: Principle of operation
- 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, Vol. 106, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3236662; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION
ATOMIC NUMBER
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA RADIATION
HOT SPOTS
JOSEPHSON EFFECT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NIOBIUM
PHOTONS
READOUT SYSTEMS
SENSITIVITY
SPECTROSCOPY
SQUID DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TANTALUM
TUNNEL EFFECT
BOSONS
DETECTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUXMETERS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
REFRACTORY METALS
SORPTION
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS