Fabrication of Bismuth Absorber Arrays for NTD-Ge Hard X-ray Microcalorimeters

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

Uri

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/34440

Url

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10909-020-02475-6

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85085309987

Issn Identifier

0022-2291

Rights

open.access

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Name

FerruggiaBonura2020 - Fabrication_postprint.pdf

Description

postprint

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960.88 KB

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Adobe PDF

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s10909-020-02475-6.pdf