Fabrication of Bismuth Absorber Arrays for NTD-Ge Hard X-ray Microcalorimeters
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
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SPOTO, DOMENICO
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Vassallo, Paola
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VARISCO, Salvatore
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Santamaria, Monica
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Di Franco, Francesco
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Zaffora, Andrea
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Botta, Luigi
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LO CICERO, UGO
Description
This research has been supported by Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), in the framework of the MISTER-X balloon-borne experiment preliminary activities. The authors thank prof. Giuseppe Lullo of Dipartimento di Ingegneria—Università di Palermo—for relevant support in patterning the microlithographic mask.
Abstract
The high-spectral-resolution detection of hard X-rays (E > 20 keV) is a challenging and nearly unexplored area in space astrophysics. Traditionally hard X-ray detectors present moderate spectral resolutions, although few tens of eV one could open new frontiers in the study of nuclear processes and high-temperature plasma dynamics in energetic processes. This can be achieved by using cryogenic microcalorimeters. Within a research activity aimed at developing arrays of neutron transmutation-doped germanium (NTD-Ge) microcalorimeters for the high-spectral-resolution detection (about 50 eV@60 keV) of hard X-rays (20 keV < E<100 keV), we developed an electroplating process to fabricate high-thickness (> 60 μm) bismuth absorber arrays. The adopted technological process and the study of related process parameters are discussed; preliminary results on produced arrays are given.
Volume
200
Issue
5-6
Start page
336
Issn Identifier
0022-2291
Rights
open.access