Development of a high-Tｃ superconducting transition edge sensor detector
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Date
2011
Authors
Zhang, Yuan
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, c2011
Abstract
This thesis describes design, fabrication, and characterizations of high-Tc transition
edge sensor (TES) detectors aiming at cryogen-free infrared application. TES is
a superconducting thermometer based bolometric detector, whose operating resistance is
strongly dependent on temperature, and therefore shows much higher sensitivity than standard
non-superconducting bolometers.
This thesis starts from the overview of major infrared detectors, then discusses in
detail the theoretical background of a TES detector and some important figures of merit in
evaluating its performance. Some TES arrays that are currently in use or under development
for astronomical, ground or space-based missions are reviewed. The core of this thesis is
the design and fabrication process of a TES detector, which is presented as a live report in
Chapter 3 and provides useful guide for future detector fabrication. In order to evaluate
performance of our devices, a cryogen-free cryostat is used for testing and its operational
mechanics is introduced. In the final part, the experimental configurations for different
tests are delivered, and the figures of merit mentioned above are measured and used to
characterize fabrication results.
Description
xv, 152 leaves : col. ill. ; 29 cm
Keywords
Bolometer -- Design and construction , Infared detectors , Dissertations, Academic