Measurements of the linearity of an STJ and position resolution of series-connected STJs

Superconducting tunnel junctions (STJ) have been developed mainly at high-resolution spectrometers for use in X-ray astronomy. A FWHM energy resolution of 112 eV at 5.9 keV is obtained using an STJ developed at Nippon Steel Corporation connected with a cooled FET (∼100 K). The pulse height of the signal is represented by a logarithmic function of energy based on consideration of the recombination of the quasi-particles in the junction. Experiments using series-connected STJs for an imaging radiation detector are performed. Both the pulse height and the rise time of signals from 241Am α-particles indicate good position sensitivity with resolution less than 0.5 mm.