Optical response of Al/Ti bilayer transition edge sensors

We report the optical response characteristics of A1/Ti bilayer transition edge sensors （TESs）, which are mainly comprised of A1/Ti bilayer thermometers and suspended SiN membranes for thermal isolation. The measurement was performed in a 3He sorption refrigerator and the device＇s response to optical pulses was investigated using a pulsed laser source. Based on these measurements, we obtained the effective recovery time （τeff） of the devices at different biases and discussed the dependence of Veff on the bias. The device with a 940 μm × 940 μm continuous suspended SiN membrane demonstrated a fast response speed with τeff = 3.9 μs, which indicates a high temperature sensitivity （a = T/R·dR/dT = 326）. The results also showed that the TES exhibits good linearity under optical pulses of variable widths.

Transition edge sensor-based detector:from X-ray to γ-ray

A transition edge sensor(TES)is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature,and combined with a high-Z metal of a certain thickness,it can realize high-energy resolution measurements of particles such as X-rays.X-rays with energies below 10 keV have a weak penetrating ability,hence,only gold or bismuth of a few micrometers in thickness can guarantee a quantum efficiency higher than 70%.Therefore,the entire structure of the TES X-ray detector in this energy range can be realized using a microfabrication process.However,for X-rays or γ-rays from 10 keV to 200 keV,submillimeter absorber layers are required,which cannot be realized using the microfabrication process.This paper first briefly introduces a set of TES X-ray detectors and their auxiliary systems,and then focuses on the introduction of the TES γ-ray detector with an absorber based on a submillimeter lead-tin alloy sphere.The detector achieved a quantum efficiency above 70% near 100 keV and an energy resolution of approximately 161.5 eV at 59.5 keV.

Fabrication and characterization of Al–Mn superconducting films for applications in TES bolometers

Superconducting transition edge sensor(TES)bolometers require superconducting films to have controllable transition temperatures T_(c)in different practical applications.The value of T_(c)strongly affects thermal conductivity and thermal noise performance of TES detectors.Al films doped with Mn(Al-Mn)of different concentrations can accomplish tunable T_(c)A magnetron sputtering machine is used to deposit the Al-Mn films in this study.Fabrication parameters including sputtering pressure and annealing process are studied and their influences on T_(c)and superconducting transition widthΔT_(c)are optimized.The Al-Mn films withΔT_(c)below 1.0 mK for T_(c)in a range of 520 mK-580 mK are successfully fabricated.

Modulation depth of series SQUIDs modified by Josephson junction area

The superconducting quantum interference device（SQUID） amplifier is widely used in the field of weak signal detection for its low input impedance, low noise, and low power consumption. In this paper, the SQUIDs with identical junctions and the series SQUIDs with different junctions were successfully fabricated. The Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb trilayer and input Nb coils were prepared by asputtering equipment. The SQUID devices were prepared by a sputtering and the lift-off method.Investigations by AFM, OM and SEM revealed the morphology and roughness of the Nb films and Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb trilayer.In addition, the current–voltage characteristics of the SQUID devices with identical junction and different junction areas were measured at 2.5 K in the He^3 refrigerator. The results show that the SQUID modulation depth is obviously affected by the junction area. The modulation depth obviously increases with the increase of the junction area in a certain range. It is found that the series SQUID with identical junction area has a transimpedance gain of 58 Ω approximately.

Relationship between seismic structures and the diverse rupture processes of the 2023 Türkiye earthquake doublet

Recent geodetic and seismological observations of two major earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye in February 2023 have revealed complex rupture initiation,propagation,and segmentation along the East Anatolian Fault Zone(EAFZ)and surrounding regions.However,the role of upper crust structures along the EAFZ in determining the diverse rupture processes of this earthquake doublet remains unclear.To further investigate this,we employed double-difference location and seismic tomography techniques to determine high-resolution seismic velocities(V_(P),V_(S))and Poisson’s ratio(σ)structures using a multiparameter joint tomographic algorithm.Our dataset includes 100,833 high-quality source-receiver travel-time pairs of P-and Swaves.We find that the unique rupture processes of this earthquake doublet were primarily influenced by contrasting crustal seismic structures and localized geological settings.The M_(w)7.8 mainshock was initiated within a transitional edge zone characterized by a rigid part(asperity)of the seismogenic zone with sharp contrast variations in rock strength ranging from low to high along the EAFZ.In comparison,the M_(w)7.6 rupture originated in a ductile belt featuring fluid saturation with low-VP,low-VS,and high-σvalues that extended parallel to the Cardak Fault.The pronounced contrast structures observed along the former rupture can be attributed to the oblique collision system between the weakened section of the east Anatolian plateau and the brittle Arabian platform,while the latter rupture was initiated within the ductile structure associated with fluid intrusion caused by the northward subduction of the Cyprus slab and subsequent detachment.Furthermore,the occurrence of the first earthquake(E1)serves to alleviate shear stress on the second earthquake(E2)fault,potentially impeding the initiation of an E2 rupture.On the contrary,this event also significantly reduces the normal stress acting on the E2 fault due to a double left-lateral strike-slip system within a triangular region.This reduction not only results in a decrease of fault friction force and an increase in rock porosity but also induces lower strain drops and the redistribution of Coulomb stress,thereby contributing to the initiation of the E2 event.The proposed rupture pattern exceeds the conventional model that governs individual earthquake ruptures,offering new insights for mitigating potential seismic disasters in Türkiye.The lessons learned from this doublet event can contribute to reevaluating the ongoing risk of damaging earthquakes in China’s South-North Seismic Zone or other regions worldwide with comparable geological conditions.

Characterizations of the electrothermal parameters of a transition edge sensor microcalorimeter and its energy resolution

We developed a transition‐edge sensor microcalorimeter(μ‐calorimeter)using Mo/Au/Au thin films.We report the detector fabrication,the measurements of the electrothermal parameters and the noise characterizations of the transition‐edge sensor μ‐calorimeters.We estimated the energy resolution of theμ‐calorimeter using the measured noise spectrum and the calculated power‐to‐current responsivity.Using a ^(55)Fe radioactive X‐ray source,we characterized the detector responses to incident photons at various working points.The best instrumental energy resolution achieved was 4.13 eV@5.9 keV,which agrees qualitatively with the resolution of 4.01 eV estimated from the noise spectrum.

Development of superconducting microcalorimeters for the HUBS mission

Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor(HUBS)is a proposed space‐borne observatory for X‐ray astronomy.The primary scientific objectives of the mission are to fill a void in probing the ecosystem of galaxies and thus to advance our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution,which is of fundamental importance in cosmology.More specifically,HUBS aims at directly detecting soft X‐ray emission from diffuse gas of temperature exceeding 106 K,which is theoretically postulated to permeate the large structures in the cosmic web and also fill the extended halo of galaxies.However,although some indirect evidence exists,the presence of such hot gas has yet to be well established observationally,due to the lack of effective tools to probe it.In this paper,we describe the design of HUBS,focusing on its scientific payload,which employs superconducting technologies in the detector system,and particularly on progress in the development of superconducting microcalorimeters.