A Position Sensitive X-ray Spectrophotometer using Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a position-sensitive X-ray detector using microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) with a tantalum absorber, achieving efficient photon energy coupling and promising scalability for large arrays.

Contribution

It introduces a novel design of position-sensitive X-ray detectors employing MKIDs with a tantalum absorber, enhancing photon detection efficiency and spatial resolution.

Findings

Reported diffusion constants, recombination times, and energy resolution.

Demonstrated position sensitivity using dual MKIDs on a single absorber.

Showed MKIDs' scalability for large detector arrays.

Abstract

The surface impedance of a superconductor changes when energy is absorbed and Cooper pairs are broken to produce single electron (quasiparticle) excitations. This change may be sensitively measured using a thin-film resonant circuit called a microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID). The practical application of MKIDs for photon detection requires a method of efficiently coupling the photon energy to the MKID. We present results on position sensitive X-ray detectors made by using two aluminum MKIDs on either side of a tantalum photon absorber strip. Diffusion constants, recombination times, and energy resolution are reported. MKIDs can easily be scaled into large arrays.