Transition Edge Sensors as ultra-sensitive radiation detectors
I have been working at SRON from more than twenty years on the development of superconducting Transition Edge Sensors (TES) and their SQUID-based superconducing read-out for the future X-ray, infrared and cosmic background space missions. ATES uses the very steep drop in resistance when a normal metal transitions into a superconductor to create extremely sensitive thermometer. They are so sensitive in fact that they can detect the energy of single photons with extreme precision or radiation power with extremly low noise. At the moment, the TESs developed at SRON are amongst the best in the world.
Studying Hot Plasma’s in the Laboratory
Over 99% of all matter in the visible universe is comprised of hot plasma’s. The study of these plasma’s, in particular their X-ray emission, is crucial to gain understanding of the working of the hot and energetic universe. However, the interpretation of these astronomical observations is impossible without sufficient knowledge of the emission lines in the laboratory. For this reason, we have installed one of our TES X-ray spectrometers at an advanced plasma source at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg. The combination of this source, a so-called Electon Beam Ion Trap (EBIT), and our spectrometer allows us to study these plasma’s in unprecedented detail.
Technology transfer: Diagnostic for Nuclear Fusion Plasma and more
More recently, I have been leading the activity on the technology transfer of our high resolution X-ray spectrometer from space application to other fields, such as the diagnostic of nuclear fusion plasma, laboratory astrophysics and analysis of novel materials for the energy transition. I am also investigating the possibility of transferring our superconducting read-out technology to the superconducting actuators and accelerometers of the proposed Lunar Gravitational Wave Antenna.
