Fabrication of superconducting bilayer transition edge thermometers and their application for spaceborne X-ray microcalorimetry

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 2940 - 2942
• Main Authors: Finkbeiner, F.M., Chen, T.C., Aslam, S., Figueroa-Feliciano, E., Kelley, R.L., Li, M., Mott, D.B., Stahle, C.K., Stahle, C.M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-1999; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Aluminum; Applied sciences; Conducting materials; Detectors; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrication; Gold; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Materials selection; Physics; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Silver; Space technology; Superconducting devices; Superconducting materials; Superconducting transition temperature; Superconductivity; Temperature sensors; Thermal instruments, apparatus and techniques; Thermistors; Thermometers; Thermometry; Transition temperature; X-rays; Thermometer; Transition temperature; Circuit design; Test; X ray; Microcalorimetry; Space flight; Bilayer; Superconducting transition; Production process
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/77.783646

The transition between normal conduction and superconductivity in superconducting materials can be exploited as a highly sensitive thermometer. Transition temperatures can be tailored through the selection of materials, their component cases of more than one material. Two bilayer configurations, Ag/Al and Au/Mo, are examined, including details of preparation, testing, and encountered difficulties. Proposed designs for spaceflight detector applications are discussed.