초록 ▼

This invention provides a method and apparatus for particle detection utilizing an Al/normal-metal bilayer transition-edge sensor (TES) coupled with a particle absorber. The TES is maintained in the transition region where its properties are extremely sensitive to temperature. In the detector, the e

This invention provides a method and apparatus for particle detection utilizing an Al/normal-metal bilayer transition-edge sensor (TES) coupled with a particle absorber. The TES is maintained in the transition region where its properties are extremely sensitive to temperature. In the detector, the energy of an absorbed particle is converted to heat by the absorber and the transition from the bilayer's superconducting to normal state is used to sense the temperature rise. The transition temperature, T.sub.c, of the bilayer can be reproducibly controlled as a function of the relative thicknesses and the total thickness of the superconducting and normal-metal layers. The range of available T.sub.c 's extends from below 50 mK to above 1 K, allowing the detector to be tailored to the application. For x-ray detection the preferred T.sub.c is about 50-150 mK. The width of the transition edge can be less than 0.1 mK, which allows very high detector sensitivity.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A particle detector adapted for cryogenic use, comprising:a particle absorber; anda transition-edge sensor thermally coupled with said particle absorber, said transition-edge sensor comprising:a substrate;an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer disposed on said substrate, said bilayer com

[ We claim:] [1.] A particle detector adapted for cryogenic use, comprising:a particle absorber; anda transition-edge sensor thermally coupled with said particle absorber, said transition-edge sensor comprising:a substrate;an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer disposed on said substrate, said bilayer comprising a first aluminum layer in contact with a first normal-metal layer, said bilayer having a superconducting state, a normal-conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature T.sub.c ; anda means for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region.