TY - JOUR

T1 - Quasiparticle dynamics in a tantalum superconducting tunnel junction photon detector studied using phonon pulses.

AU - Wigmore, J. K.

AU - Boyd, P.

AU - Kozorezov, A. G.

AU - Bradley, D. Ian

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - We have used non-equilibrium phonon pulses to mimic X-ray photon absorption in a high quality Ta superconducting tunnel junction at 20 mK. From pulse shape measurements the charge output and decay time were determined. Values obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by photo-absorption after allowance for loss due to flux trapping, Results obtained for the quasiparticle loss rate due to Abrikosov vortices (fluxoids) were compared with the trapping model of Golubov and Houwman. Comparison of Ta and Nb results suggest that at very low temperatures fluxoid trapping may result in enhanced tunnelling rather than extra loss.

AB - We have used non-equilibrium phonon pulses to mimic X-ray photon absorption in a high quality Ta superconducting tunnel junction at 20 mK. From pulse shape measurements the charge output and decay time were determined. Values obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by photo-absorption after allowance for loss due to flux trapping, Results obtained for the quasiparticle loss rate due to Abrikosov vortices (fluxoids) were compared with the trapping model of Golubov and Houwman. Comparison of Ta and Nb results suggest that at very low temperatures fluxoid trapping may result in enhanced tunnelling rather than extra loss.

KW - 74.25.Kc • 85.25.Oj

U2 - 10.1002/pssc.200405321

DO - 10.1002/pssc.200405321

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1

SP - 2791

EP - 2794

JO - Physica Status Solidi C

JF - Physica Status Solidi C

SN - 1610-1634

IS - 11

ER -