Hot-electron microcalorimeters as high-resolution x-ray detectors

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Abstract
Measurements are presented on a novel microcalorimeter for the detection of x rays. This detector uses a normal metal film deposited on a thin membrane to absorb x-ray photons. The subsequent temperature rise of the electrons is measured from the current–voltage characteristics of a normal-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction, where part of the absorber forms the normal electrode. A superconducting-quantum-interference-device is used as a low-noise high-bandwidth readout for the junction. We have measured an energy resolution of 22 eV full width at half-maximum and a time constant of 15 μs for a detector operating at 80 mK and having a 0.5 μm thick Au absorber with an area of 100×100 μm2.

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