Superconducting transition-edge sensor with weak links
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
InventorsGene Hilton, Kent David Irwin, John Martinis, David Wollman
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Abstract
A system and method for using one or more localized weak-link structures, and damping on the electrical bias circuit, to improve the performance of superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES). The weak links generally consist of an area or areas having a reduction in cross-sectional geometry in an otherwise uniform bilayer TES applied to a substrate. The weak links control the dissipation of power in the sensor, making it quieter and making its electrical response smoother and less hysteretic. The TES response is also made smoother by implementing a damping circuit on the electrical output of the TES.
Claims40
A superconducting transition edge sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
- a bilayer deposited on said substrate;
- said bilayer comprising a first normal metal layer in contact with a first superconducting layer;
- said bilayer having a localized weak link whereby a predetermined critical current Ic may be maintained;
- said bilayer having a superconducting state, a normal conducting state and a transition region therebetween with a transition temperature Tc;
- and
- a circuit for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region.
A superconducting transition edge sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
- superconducting layer deposited on said substrate, said superconducting layer having a localized weak link whereby a predetermined critical current Ic may be maintained, said superconducting layer having a superconducting state, a normal conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature Tc;
- and
- a circuit connected to the superconducting layer for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region.
A method for improving the performance of superconducting transition edge sensors comprising the steps of:
- depositing a normal-metal superconducting metal bilayer on a substrate;
- said bilayer comprising a first normal metal layer in contact with a first superconducting layer;
- forming a localized weak link whereby a predetermined critical current Ic may be maintained;
- wherein said bilayer has a superconducting state, a normal conducting state and a transition region therebetween with transition temperature Tc;
- connecting a circuit for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region;
- maintaining a temperature of said bilayer within said transition region;
- maintaining a critical current Ic within said transition-edge sensor;
- impinging a particle on said bilayer;
- measuring a resulting superconducting transition within said transition region;
- detecting said particle from said measured superconducting transition;
- and
- reducing a noise signal created by phase slip lines with said weak link thereby eliminating the need to apply a magnetic field.
A method for improving the performance of superconducting transition edge sensors comprising the steps of:
- forming a substrate;
- forming a layer deposited on said substrate;
- said layer comprising a superconducting layer in contact with said substrate;
- said layer having a localized weak link whereby a predetermined critical current Ic may be maintained;
- said layer having a superconducting state, a normal conducting state and a transition region therebetween with a transition temperature Tc;
- connecting a means for measuring superconducting transitions within said transition region;
- maintaining a temperature of said layer within said transition region;
- maintaining a critical current Ic within said transition-edge sensor;
- impinging a particle on said layer;
- measuring a resulting superconducting transition within said transition region;
- and
- detecting said particle from said measured superconducting transition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.