Superconductive radiation detector with large sensitive area (series-connected STJ detector)

Abstract

One of the serious problems in the development of particle detectors with superconducting tunnel junctions (STJ) is the difficulty in devising a large area that is sensitive to nuclear radiations. The problem has been solved by using an assembly of micro STJs connected in series (series-connected STJ detector), which is designed for detecting nonthermal phonons created by irradiating the rear substrate (sapphire) with nuclear radiations. The present detector is sensitive not only to ionizing events but also to nonionizing events, providing us with a new method to detect nuclear radiations. Some features of the series-connected STJ detector are described in this article.