Absorber Materials for Transition-Edge Sensor X-ray Microcalorimeters

ORAL

Abstract

Arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES) can provide high spatial and energy resolution necessary for x-ray astronomy. High quantum efficiency and uniformity of response can be achieved with a suitable absorber material, in which absorber x-ray stopping power, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity are relevant parameters. Here we compare these parameters for bismuth and gold. We find that the thermal conductivity of these materials is highly dependent upon the thin film deposition technique. Furthermore, we briefly discuss the performance of our x-ray detectors when they possess cantilevered evaporated Bi/Au, electroplated Bi/Au, and electroplated Au absorbers.

*A portion of this research was supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at Goddard Space Flight Center, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities through a contract with NASA.

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Authors

  • Ari-David Brown

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Simon Bandler

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Regis Brekosky

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • James Chervenak

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Fred Finkbeiner

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Naoko Iyomoto

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Richard Kelley

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Caroline Kilbourne

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Frederick Porter

    • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano

    • Massachussetts Institute of Technology

  • Tarek Saab

    • University of Florida

  • John Sadleir

    • NASA GSFC/University of Illinois