Analytical models for the pulse shape of a superconductor-ferromagnet tunnel junction thermoelectric microcalorimeter

TL;DR

This paper develops analytical models for the pulse response of superconductor-ferromagnet tunnel junction thermoelectric microcalorimeters, aiding in their design for ultrasensitive radiation detection.

Contribution

It introduces analytical time-domain models for SFTED microcalorimeters, enabling better understanding and optimization of their pulse response and stability.

Findings

Derived analytical solutions for pulse response in small-signal limit

Identified circuit conditions for stable, non-oscillatory operation

Compared different circuit models to optimize detector performance

Abstract

The superconductor-ferromagnet thermoelectric detector (SFTED) is a novel ultrasensitive radiation detector based on the giant thermoelectric effect in superconductorferromagnet tunnel junctions. We demonstrate analytical models and solutions in the time domain for a SFTED operated as a microcalorimeter (pulse excitation), in the linear smallsignal limit. Based on these solutions, the signal current and temperature pulse response were studied for two different electrical circuit models, providing design conditions for stable and non-oscillatory response.