Microcalorimeter X-ray Detector Research Articles

Radiance line ratios Ly-β/Ly-α, Ly-γ/Ly-α, Ly-δ/Ly-α, and Ly-ε/Ly-α for soft X-ray emissions following charge exchange between C6+ and Kr

The radiance line ratios Ly-β/Ly-α, Ly-γ/Ly-α, Ly-δ/Ly-α, and Ly-ε/Ly-α for soft X-ray emission following charge exchange (CX) between C6+ and Kr are reported for collision energies between approximately 320 and 46,000eV/u. The corresponding collision velocities (250–3000km/s) are characteristic of the solar wind. X-ray spectra were obtained at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Multicharged Ion Research Facility using a microcalorimeter X-ray detector with a resolution on the order of 10eV FWHM. The measured Ly-ε/Ly-α is zero for all considered energies and suggests that very little, if any, capture to 6p occurs. The measured Ly-β/Ly-α and Ly-γ/Ly-α ratios intersect and form a well resolved node around (950±50)km/s, which could be used as an astrophysical velocity indicative tool. The results reported here are compared to calculations for C6+ +H since no published theory for C6+ +Kr is known to exist. Double-electron-capture (DEC) and other multi-electron processes are possible. True double capture is estimated to be only 10% of the single-electron-capture (SEC).

Development of Compact Dry 3He-4He Dilution Refrigerator for Transition Edge Sensor Microcalorimeter X-ray Detector Operation on Electron Microscopes

A compact dry 3He- 4He dilution refrigerator (DR) was developed for operation of a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter x-ray detector mounted on a transmission electron microscope. A Gifford-McMahon (GM)-type mechanical cryocooler was used as a DR pre-cooler to operate the TES microcalorimeter without consuming liquid helium. To reduce the noise and vibrations generated by the GM cryocooler, the DR was separated from the cryocooler in a split system that allows a remote helium cooling loop to pre-cool the DR. In the DR unit, the dilution components of the still, the heat exchangers, and the cascade pair of mixing chambers were assembled into a compact cylinder. A snout made from an oxygen-free copper rod was attached to the DR mixing chamber for placement of the TES microcalorimeter x-ray detector. The lowest temperature and the cooling power in the mixing chamber were measured to be 87 mK and 20 μW at 100 mK, respectively. The DR unit was shown to maintain the temperature on top of the snout such that it was below the temperature required for multi-pixel-array TES microcalorimeter x-ray detector operation.

X-ray-emission measurements following charge exchange between C6+and H2

Lyman x-ray spectra following charge exchange between C$^{6+}$ and H$_2$ are presented for collision velocities between 400 and 2300 km/s (1--30 keV/amu). Spectra were measured by a microcalorimeter x-ray detector capable of fully resolving the C VI Lyman series emission lines though Lyman-$\delta$. The ratios of the measured emission lines are sensitive to the angular momentum $l$-states populated during charge exchange and are used to gauge the effectiveness of different $l$-distribution models in predicting Lyman emission due to charge exchange. At low velocities, we observe that both single electron capture and double capture autoionization contribute to Lyman emission and that a statistical $l$-distribution best describes the measured line ratios. At higher velocities single electron capture dominates with the $l$-distribution peaked at the maximum $l$.

X-ray Emission Measurements following Charge Exchange Between C6+ and He.

X-ray spectra following charge exchange collisions between C6+ and He are presented for collision energies between 460 eV/u and 32,000 eV/u. Spectra were obtained at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Multicharged Ion Research Facility using a microcalorimeter X-ray detector capable of fully resolving the C VI Lyman series lines through Ly-γ. These line ratios are sensitive to the initial electron l-distribution and test our understanding of the charge exchange process. In addition, these line ratios are important for identifying charge exchange in astrophysical contexts involving the interaction of solar wind ions with neutrals. Our measurements are performed at collision velocities (300 km/s to 2500 km/s) which overlap most of the solar wind range. Additional data of this type can be combined with computations to provide an extensive set of reliable line ratios and absolute cross sections for the interpretation of a variety of astrophysical situations.

CdTe detector use for PIXE characterization of TbCoFe thin films

Abstract Peltier cooled CdTe detectors have good efficiency beyond the range of energies normally covered by Si(Li) detectors, the most common detectors in PIXE applications. An important advantage of CdTe detectors is the possibility of studying K X-rays lines instead the L X-rays lines in various cases since CdTe detectors present an energy efficiency plateau reaching 70 keV or more. The ITN CdTe useful energy range starts at K-Kα (3.312 keV) and goes up to 120 keV, just above the energy of the lowest γ-ray of the 19F(p, p’γ)19F reaction. In the new ITN HRHE-PIXE line, a CdTe detector is associated to a POLARIS microcalorimeter X-ray detector built by Vericold Technologies GmbH (an Oxford Instruments Group Company). The ITN POLARIS has a resolution of 15 eV at 1.486 keV (Al-Kα) and 24 eV at 10.550 keV (Pb-Lα1). In the present work, a TbCoFe thin film deposited on a Si substrate was analysed at the HRHE-PIXE system. The good efficiency of the CdTe detector at 45 keV (Tb-Kα), and the excellent resolution of POLARIS microcalorimeter at 6.403 keV (Fe-Kα), are presented and the new possibilities open to the IBA analysis of systems with traditionally overlapping X-rays and near mass elements are discussed.

The microcalorimeter X-ray detector: A true paradigm shift in X-ray spectroscopy

The microcalorimeter x-ray detector registers the heat deposited in an absorber from individual x-ray photons by means of a sensitive thermometer. It combines advantages of wavelength-dispersive and energy-dispersive detectors: relatively high energy resolution over a broad energy spectrum. Operating at very low temperatures reduces the noise, making the high energy resolution possible. The absorber can be tailored to any energy range, from soft x-rays to gamma rays. After many years of development, several designs have reached a level of performance and reliability that makes them competitive x-ray detectors for many kinds of experiment. We survey current microcalorimeter detectors using several different thermometers. Their applications already run from chemical analysis to plasma physics and x-ray astronomy. We describe two examples of how the microcalorimeter detector can enable novel determinations in x-ray physics.

Quantitative analysis with the transition edge sensor microcalorimeter X-ray detector

We report on the use of a microcalorimeter X-ray detector with a transition edge sensor in an electron probe to perform quantitative analysis. We analyzed two bulk samples of multielement glasses that have been previously characterized by chemical methods for use as standard reference materials. The spectra were analyzed against standards using three different correction schemes. In one of the standards, the reference line was easily resolved despite its proximity within 45 eV of another line. With the exception of direct measurements of oxygen (a particularly challenging element), the results are in agreement with the certified characterization to better than 1% absolute or 8% relative. This demonstrates the potential of microcalorimeter detectors as replacements for conventional energy dispersive detectors in applications requiring high energy resolution.

Erbium-doped gold sensor films for magnetic microcalorimeter x-ray detectors

We briefly review the principles of a magnetic microcalorimeter x-ray detector and the requirements for fabricating an array of such sensors, which include a paramagnetic sensor fabricated with thin-film techniques. We discuss two methods for depositing an Er-doped Au sensor film and present magnetization measurements from 4to300K in 5T and near the detector’s operating temperature and field. The properties of the deposited films that we have studied to date deviate from the expected behavior of bulk materials.

Improving energy stability in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Microcalorimeter X-ray detector

Improving energy stability in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Microcalorimeter X-ray detector

C-4 Improving Energy Stability in the NIST Microcalorimeter X-ray Detector

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.

Lithographically patterned magnetic calorimeter X-ray detectors with integrated SQUID readout

We describe the design, fabrication and performance of a fully lithographically patterned magnetic microcalorimeter X-ray detector. The detector is fabricated on the same chip as a low-noise SQUID that measures the change in the magnetic sensor film's magnetization as the film is heated by absorbed X-rays. Our proof-of-principle detectors use a 100μm×100μm–2μm paramagnetic Au:Er film coupled to a low-noise on-chip SQUID via a meandering superconducting pickup loop that also provides the magnetic field bias to the film. Absorption of 6keV X-rays in the film causes heating on the order of 1mK with a decay time of 1ms or less, the fastest reported using a magnetic calorimeter. However, the resolution is currently poor due to poor Au:Er film properties and non-optimized coupling to the SQUID. We describe the design and fabrication of this device and present measurements of the heat capacity, decay time constant and effective thermal conductance of the microcalorimeter as a function of temperature. Because the SQUID and calorimeter are lithographically patterned on the same substrate, this technology can be readily applied to the fabrication of arrays of multiplexed magnetic microcalorimeter detectors.

High-resolution energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopic analysis of ultrathin ion diffusion barriers using microcalorimetry

The advent of microcalorimetry for x-ray detectors holds the promise for high-resolution compositional microanalysis applicable to nanometer-scale devices and structures. To demonstrate this capability, microcalorimeter-based energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) has been used to analyze ultrathin TaSiN films under development as ion diffusion barriers in sub-0.1 μm integrated circuit interconnect structures. Microanalysis of TaSiN films has been carried out using microcalorimetry-based EDS for comparison with similar data acquired using conventional Si(Li) EDS detectors. The elimination of elemental peak overlaps provided by the improved energy resolution of the microcalorimeter x-ray detector is demonstrated for TaSiN EDS spectra from films as thin as 3.5 nm. In addition, variation of the electron probe beam energy is examined to reduce the x-ray generation volume relative to the TaSiN film thickness. It is shown that microcalorimetery-based EDS is a potentially powerful technique for the characterization/metrology of ultrathin barrier films used for microelectronics, with x-ray energy-resolving capabilities similar to techniques such as wavelength dispersive spectroscopy.