Superconducting transition-edge sensor

A method of detecting particles, comprising the steps of:

• providing a transition-edge sensor comprising:
• a substrate;
• an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer disposed on said substrate, said bilayer comprising a first aluminum layer in contact with a first normal-metal layer, said bilayer having a superconducting state, a normal-conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature T.sub.c ;
• and
• a means for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region;
• maintaining the temperature of said bilayer within said transition region;
• impinging a particle on said bilayer or on a particle absorber coupled with said bilayer;
• measuring the resulting superconducting transition within said transition region of said bilayer;
• and
• detecting said particle from said measured superconducting transition.

A thermometer for measuring temperature changes in an object, comprising:

• a transition-edge sensor adapted to be thermally coupled with said object, said transition-edge sensor comprising:
• a substrate;
• an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer disposed on said substrate, said bilayer comprising a first aluminum layer in contact with a first normal-metal layer, said bilayer having a superconducting state, a normal-conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature T.sub.c ;
• and
• a means for measuring temperature changes in said object comprising a means for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region.

A particle detector adapted for cryogenic use, comprising:

• a transition-edge sensor comprising:
• a substrate;
• an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer disposed on said substrate, said bilayer comprising a first aluminum layer in contact with a first normal-metal layer, said bilayer having a superconducting state, a normal-conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature Tc;
• and
• a means for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region;
• wherein said substrate is a particle absorber.

A particle detector adapted for cryogenic use, comprising:

• a transition-edge sensor comprising:
• a substrate;
• an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer disposed on said substrate, said bilayer comprising a first aluminum layer in contact with a first normal-metal layer, said bilayer having a superconducting state, a normal-conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature Tc;
• and
• a means for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region;
• wherein said bilayer is a particle absorber.