Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 1999
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999nimpa.436..238k&link_type=abstract
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, Volume 436, Issue 1-2, p. 238-242.
Physics
4
Scientific paper
Superconducting Tunnel Junctions (STJ) have now been under development for a number of years for a wide range of astronomical applications. Devices based on niobium-aluminium or tantalum-aluminium have been shown to be efficient photon counting energy dispersive spectrometers from the near-infra-red to X-ray region of the spectrum. The basic performance characteristics of tantalum-based devices, in terms of detection efficiency, spectral resolution and signal linearity with photon energy, are provided for each wave band of astronomical interest, namely: the near-infra-red (NIR [1-5 /μm]), optical [400-1000 nm], ultraviolet (UV [100-400 nm]), extreme ultraviolet (EUV [10-100 nm]), soft X-ray (SXR [100-2000 eV]) and medium X-ray (MXR [2-10 keV]) regions of the spectrum. Although design issues which allow the optimization of the performance for a specific waveband are of importance, we show that current generations of tantalum-based STJs have already very good performance over the whole spectral range. A particular improvement in the resolving power and a description of the role played by various mechanisms in degrading the energy resolution from the theoretical tunnel limited value is given based on specific measurements at relevant photon wavelengths. Additional astronomical characteristics for future applications, such as the time resolution and imaging capability are also presented, based on experimental data and the performance of the first small format /6×6 pixel STJ array described. Finally an assessment is provided on the possibility for further improvements, particularly in the area of higher spectral resolution, through the use of lower band gap superconductors.
Bavdaz Marcos
den Hartog Roland
Kraft Sebastian
Owens Alan
Peacock Aaron
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