Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-04-30

Development of a hot electron bolometer for sub-mm and x-ray spectroscopy applications

Objective



Research objectives and content
Since about one year SRON has started a new, very promising development line on Hot Electron Bolometers. When operated in extreme electrothermal feedback these detectors outperform the standard microcalorimeters both in respons speed and limiting energy resolution.
The objective of the proposed project is the development of these detectors for two potential applications:
1. Sub-mm detection of the cosmic microwave background onboard ESA's Cobras/Samba satellite. At present this instrument is equipped with standard bolometers. Implementation of the hot electron bolometers would improve on the detection accuracy. Discussions have started with the principal investigator of the instrument.
2. Imaging X-ray spectroscopy with a high detection efficiency in the 0.5 - 15 keV energy range on board of a future ESA or NASA X-ray Spectroscopy satellite. The aim is to develop a 100 times 100 array of Hot Electron bolometer elements, each with a spectral resolution of about 5 eV for 6 keV X-rays.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
I have been working with radiation detectors for about 7 years, mainly gas detectors, and I think there are very new techniques in this field that have very promising applications. The superconductors radiation detectors have excellent performances like energy resolution which allow further steps in fields like astronomy, environment studies, material analysis, etc.
There are good perspectives of Portugal joining ESA so, within this context, space applications will be a good field to be involved in, because new perspectives will appear for portuguese researchers.
I also think that for someone living in a country where the scientific equipment resources are very limited it is verM important to work in an institution like SRON and have access to the facilities available. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
Once available, these types of detectors will have the following applications:
o Research projects requiring high quality sub-mm/IR or X-ray sensors. o Material analysis by means of X-ray and IR techniques.

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)

Coordinator

Stichting Ruimtelijk Onderzoek Nederland
EU contribution
No data
Address
2,Sorbonnelaan 2
3584 CA Utrecht
Netherlands
Total cost
No data

Participants (1)