Modeling phase-separated transition-edge sensors in SuperCDMS detectors

TL;DR

This paper presents a numerical simulation and tuning method for phase-separated transition-edge sensors in SuperCDMS detectors, enhancing understanding and optimization of detector performance.

Contribution

It introduces a new simulation approach for TES phase separation and a tuning procedure that aligns the model with experimental data.

Findings

Successful reproduction of superconducting-to-normal phase separation

Insights into phase-separation length for detector optimization

Enhanced simulation accuracy for phonon and charge physics

Abstract

The SuperCDMS experiment implements transition-edge sensors to measure athermal phonons produced by nuclear recoils in Ge crystals. We discuss a numerical simulation of these TES devices and a procedure for tuning the free model parameters to data, which reproduces superconducting-to-normal phase separation within a TES. This tuning provides insight into the behavior of the TESs, allows us to study the phase-separation length to optimize our detector design, and is integrated into a more complete simulation of the phonon and charge physics of SuperCDMS detectors.