Next-generation Analytical Instruments Equipped with Superconducting Electronics

Abstract

Superconducting direct detectors operating at very low temperature less than 4 K have extremely high performance that cannot be obtained by semiconductor-based detectors. The superconducting direct detectors measure or count the arrival of energy quanta such as photons from sub-mm to the γ-ray region and phonons created by molecule incidence. There are three types: calorimeter, junction, and nanostrip detectors. The specifications of concern are spectral resolution, time response, and operating temperature. According to the requirement, the best type of superconducting direct detector is used for scientific and industrial applications such as, for example, dark matter search, X-ray materials analysis, mass spectrometry, and quantum communications.