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Superconducting X-ray detectors

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Abstract

Owing to their high sensitivity and low noise, superconducting detectors are used for photon detection from microwave to high-energy particles. X-ray detection plays an important role in materials analysis, astronomy, and medical radiography, which require high efficiency as well as high energy resolution. However, traditional semiconducting detectors cannot fulfill these requirements. In this article, we review superconducting quantum detectors for X-ray detection, including transition-edge sensor (TES), superconducting tunneling junctions (STJs), kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), and introduce the physical structures, working mechanisms, and device behaviors of these detectors. We also review their performances regarding X-ray detection and analyze their respective characteristics. According to recent progress and the requirements of various applications, possible improvement of superconducting detectors for X-rays are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFA0304000), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61671438, U1631240), Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. 2019SHZDZX01), and Program of Shanghai Academic/Technology Research Leader (Grant No. 18XD1404600).

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China

    Can Yang, Mengting Si & Lixing You

  2. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Lixing You

  3. CAS Center for Excellence in Superconducting Electronics (CENSE), Shanghai, 200050, China

    Can Yang, Mengting Si & Lixing You

  4. Zhejiang Photon Technology Co. Ltd., Guigu Science Park, Jiashan, 314100, China

    Lixing You

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Yang, C., Si, M. & You, L. Superconducting X-ray detectors. Sci. China Inf. Sci. 63, 180502 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-020-2932-8

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