Transition-Edge Sensors for Particle Induced X-ray Emission Measurements

Abstract

In this paper we present a new measurement setup, where a transitionedge sensor detector array is used to detect X-rays in particle induced X-ray emission measurements with a 2 MeV proton beam. Transition-edge sensors offer orders of magnitude improvement in energy resolution compared to conventional silicon or germanium detectors, making it possible to recognize spectral lines in materials analysis that have previously been impossible to resolve, and to get chemical information from the elements. Our sensors are cooled to the operation temperature (65 mK) with a cryogen-free adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator, which houses a specially designed X-ray snout that has a vacuum tight window to couple in the radiation. For the best pixel, the measured instrumental energy resolution was 3.06 eV full width at half maximum at 5.9 keV.We discuss the current status of the project, benefits of transition-edge sensors when used in particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy, and the results from the first measurements.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure, LTD-15 proceeding

Broadband Ultrahigh-Resolution Spectroscopy of Particle-Induced X Rays: Extending the Limits of Nondestructive Analysis

“…In contrast to Ref. [6], however, the distance between the detector and the samples is reduced from 30 to 15 cm, increasing the collection efficiency by a factor of 4. An Amptek X-123SDD silicon drift detector is used as a reference detector, with measurements performed in air.…”

“…We recently developed a powerful x-ray spectroscopic materials analysis tool [6], which utilizes an array of superconducting transition-edge sensors operated at 0.1 K as the detectors, coupled with an ion-beam (proton) excitation by an accelerator (TES PIXE). Here, we demonstrate the spectroscopic capabilities of the instrument by measuring several complex samples with many elements.…”

“…A pulse-tube precooled cryogen-free adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator [22] is used to cool the detectors and the readout, which are located inside a specially designed extension structure [6] to facilitate close proximity to the samples (Fig. 1).…”

“…Further details of the measurement geometry and the setup can be found in Ref. [6], where the FWHM energy resolution 3.06 eV of the best pixel in our setup is also reported. In contrast to Ref.…”

“…However, we obtain competitive counting rates (approximately kcps) and collecting areas by using large arrays with hundreds of individual detector elements. This countrate capability is combined with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) energy resolution demonstrated to be 3 eV at 6 keV in the best cases [6]. Thus, we have a unique instrument for elemental analysis that combines the best aspects of traditional EDS and WDS instruments.…”