Michael Niemack, Department of Physics, Cornell University, will present seminar. Professor James P. Sethna, host.

Seminar Title:  Applied superconductivity in low-temperature detectors and SQUIDs for microwave, optical, and X-ray measurements

Abstract: Advances in superconducting detector arrays in the last decade have transformed our ability to make precise measurements in microwave astrophysics, and recent developments are enabling new energy-resolving single-photon measurements spanning the optical and X-ray spectrum.  I will review the performance of superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) detectors and describe recent progress in understanding the behavior of the superconducting transition in these thin film devices.  SQUID multiplexing techniques that we use to measure thousands of TES detectors will be discussed along with some of the challenges for building large arrays of fast single-photon detectors.  I will introduce advantages of superconducting kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) being developed for both single-photon optical spectroscopy and microwave measurements and briefly highlight some next generation applications for these devices.

Poster available.