Nonequilibrium model of the superconducting tunneling junction x-ray detector

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.34.7748· OSTI ID:6960556

Twerenbold, D

Giaever-type superconducting tunneling junctions are shown to be sensitive to the ionization energy of low-energy x-ray photons. The Mn K..cap alpha.. and Mn K..beta.. x-ray photons from a Fe/sup 55/ source were detected with an energy resolution of 67 eV full width at half maximum (FWHM) at an energy of 5.89 keV with Sn/Sn oxide/Sn junctions evaporated on fused silica and operated at a temperature of 0.38 K. In this paper, a model of this detector is presented. The basic features are well described by dynamical Cooper-pair breaking and the relaxation mechanisms of nonequilibrium superconductivity. Quasiparticle diffusion had to be included in order to explain the observed data. The solutions of the four coupled Rothwarf-Taylor equations, one quasiparticle equation and one 2..delta..-phonon equation for each of the two films, agree reasonably well with measured pulse shapes.

• Research Organization: Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research, CH-5234 Villigen, Switzerland
• OSTI ID: 6960556
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 34:11; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHALCOGENIDES
COOPER PAIRS
DETECTION
DISSOCIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RESOLUTION
JUNCTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUASI PARTICLES
RADIATION DETECTION
RESOLUTION
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
TIN
TIN COMPOUNDS
TIN OXIDES
TUNNEL EFFECT
X-RAY DETECTION