T.J. Johnson (University of Idaho), R. Bruni, B.E. Unks (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrohpysics), H. Eguchi (Brown University), S. Romaine (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Prototype metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs) have demonstrated capabilities desirable of detectors for future x-ray astronomy missions. MMCs have the best theoretical energy resolution of other detectors in development and have demonstrated experimental results on par with transition-edge-sensor and NTD microcalorimeters. Progress has been made towards an optimized fabrication procedure using sputter deposition techniques, coupled with photolithography and lift-off technologies, to fabricate the sensors. Before MMCs can be a viable option, however, detector fabrication techniques must be optimized for large 2-D arrays of detectors. We present progress made towards an optimized fabrication process as well as features which make MMCs particularly promising. This research project was part of an NSF/REU summer internship program at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: john8607@uidaho.edu
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.