Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Apr 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997aps..apr..n402p&link_type=abstract
American Physical Society, APS/AAPT Joint Meeting, April 18-21, 1997, abstract #N4.02
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The capabilities of superconducting tunnel junctions as detectors for ultraviolet, optical, and near infrared astronomy are discussed. Such junctions have recently been shown to allow the detection of individual optical and ultraviolet photons with an inherent spectral resolution related to the critical temperature of the absorbing superconductor. Limiting resolutions at 500 nm ranging from 5-40 nm (for materials with critical temperatures between 0.1 to 10 K) should be achievable. These detectors should have a high quantum efficiency (> 50 per cent) over a very broad wavelength range from the ultraviolet to the near infrared (100-2000 nm). The overall efficiency is limited by reflection from the superconducting film, and should be improved by appropriate anti reflection coatings. The devices function at very high incident photon rates - with count rates of order 10 kHz or higher being feasible, and photon arrival times determined to microsecond level accuracy. It is also quite realistic to envisage that these devices, of a size typically 20-50 microns, could be packaged into imaging arrays. Results from some simple limited format arrays will be shown together with designs for future large formats. These key characteristics imply that many areas of optical and ultraviolet astronomy could benefit significantly from their further development.
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