Application of a TES micro-calorimeter as high-energy resolution detector for hard X-rays at a synchrotron beam line

A superconducting transition edge sensor microcalorimeter was tested at the synchrotron radiation beam-line of the ESRF to collect the X-ray fluorescence spectrum of a Renaissance gold lustre on ceramic. The measured energy resolution of the detector in the range 6–9 keV was 70 eV, i.e. 3 times better than that of the usual solid state detector. The preliminary data collected demonstrate the applicability of these detectors to the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy at the synchrotron radiation facilities.