US 4,935,626 AGranted

Broadband superconducting detector having a thermally isolated sensing element

AssigneeProgress Technologies Corporation

InventorRichard T. Schneider

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A broadband photon detector device that operates using a superconducting material is biased at the temperature where the material changes from a superconducting to a non-superconducting state. Photons that strike the material cause a temperature change and a measurable increase in resistivity of the material. Measuring the increase in resistivity allows the detection of the incident photons. This detector is very sensitive because superconducting leads are connected at one end to the superconducting material and at another end to a sensor that measures the changing resistivity, thereby limiting thermal conduction. Thermal conduction is further prevented in another embodiment in which a sensor is electrically and thermally isolated from the superconducting material. This sensor detects the change in resistivity of the superconducting material through detecting a change in an eddy current established in the superconducting material.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A broadband photon detector comprising:

detector means for detecting photons made from superconducting material such that at least within a given range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
means for maintaining said material at a temperature within said given range so that an increase in temperature of said material will cause an increase in the resistivity of said material;
means for sensing an increase in the resistivity of said material, said sensing means including:
an electrically conductive coil disposed around said detector to be substantially thermally and electrically isolated from said detector;
means for generating a pulse on said coil to cause an eddy current in said material;
and
pulse detecting means for detecting a voltage pulse caused by a changing magnetic field in response to said increase in resistivity of said material that causes a dissipation of said eddy current.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/243,684Filed 13 Sep 1988 · continuation in part
Priority: 23 Dec 1987
Granted: 19 Jun 1990
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G01J 5/20
Using electric radiation detectors: using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices
G06F 3/0481
Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a…
G06F 3/04817
Based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like…:…
G06F 17/18
Complex mathematical operations: for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression…