Single-photon 2-D imaging X-ray spectrometer employing trapping with four tunnel junctions

Abstract

We are developing single-photon 2-D imaging X-ray spectrometers for applications in X-ray astrophysics. The devices employing a Ta strip X-ray absorber with Al traps and a tunnel junction at each end have been tested. They achieve an energy resolution of 26 eV out of 5.9 keV over a limited length (Segall, IEEE Trans., in press) with a 1-D spatial resolution of about 2 μm over the full 160 μm length. By analytical and numerical simulations of the quasiparticle diffusion process, we study related devices with a square Ta absorber having four traps and attached junctions to provide 2-D imaging. The traps give charge division to the corners or to the edges of the square absorber. We find that these devices can give good 2-D spatial resolution. We discuss the operating principle and the factors which affect the spatial resolution.