Proximity Effects and Nonequilibrium Superconductivity in Transition-Edge Sensors

We have recently shown that normal-metal/superconductor (N/S) bilayer TESs (superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors) exhibit weak-link behavior.1 Here we extend our understanding to include TESs with added noise-mitigating normal-metal structures (N structures). We find TESs with added Au structures also exhibit weak-link behavior as evidenced by exponential temperature dependence of the critical current and Josephson-like oscillations of the critical current with applied magnetic field. We explain our results in terms of an effect converse to the longitudinal proximity effect (LoPE)1, the lateral inverse proximity effect (LaiPE), for which the order parameter in the N/S bilayer is reduced due to the neighboring N structures. Resistance and critical current measurements are presented as a function of temperature and magnetic field taken on square Mo/Au bilayer TESs with lengths ranging from 8 to 130 {\mu}m with and without added N structures. We observe the inverse proximity effect on the bilayer over in-plane distances many tens of microns and find the transition shifts to lower temperatures scale approximately as the inverse square of the in- plane N-structure separation distance, without appreciable broadening of the transition width. We also present evidence for nonequilbrium superconductivity and estimate a quasiparticle lifetime of 1.8 \times 10-10 s for the bilayer. The LoPE model is also used to explain the increased conductivity at temperatures above the bilayer's steep resistive transition.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

Magnetic Calorimeter Option for the Lynx X-Ray Microcalorimeter

One option for the detector technology to implement the Lynx x-ray microcalorimeter (LXM) focal plane arrays is the metallic magnetic calorimeter (MMC). Two-dimensional imaging arrays of MMCs measure the energy of x-ray photons by using a paramagnetic sensor to detect the temperature rise in a microfabricated x-ray absorber. While small arrays of MMCs have previously been demonstrated that have energy resolution better than the 3 eV requirement for LXM, we describe LXM prototype MMC arrays that have 55,800 x-ray pixels, thermally linked to 5688 sensors in hydra configurations, and that have sensor inductance increased to avoid signal loss from the stray inductance in the large-scale arrays when the detectors are read out with microwave superconducting quantum interference device multiplexers, and that use multilevel planarized superconducting wiring to provide low-inductance, low-crosstalk connections to each pixel. We describe the features of recently tested MMC prototype devices and simulations of expected performance in designs opti- mized for the three subarray types in LXM

Solar Neutrinos: Radiative Corrections in Neutrino-Electron Scattering Experiments

Radiative corrections to the electron recoil-energy spectra and to total cross sections are computed for neutrino-electron scattering by solar neutrinos. Radiative corrections change monotonically the electron recoil spectrum for incident \b8 neutrinos, with the relative probability of observing recoil electrons being reduced by about 4 \% at the highest electron energies. For $p-p$ and \be7 neutrinos, the recoil spectra are not affected significantly. Total cross sections for solar neutrino-electron scattering are reduced by about 2 \% compared to previously computed values. We also calculate the recoil spectra from $^{13}$N and $^{15}$O neutrinos including radiative corrections.Comment: 40 pages, uuencoded, Z-compress file

BUMC Annual Report

Annual report of the Boston University Medical Center

Automated synthesis of transmission lines loaded with complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs) through aggressive space mapping (ASM)

This paper is focused on the application of space mapping optimization to the automated synthesis of transmission lines loaded with complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs). These structures are of interest for the implementation of resonant-type metamaterial transmission lines and for the design of planar microwave circuits based on such complementary resonators. The paper presents a method to generate the layouts of CSRR- and OCSRR-loaded microstrip lines from the elements of their equivalent circuit models. Using the so-called aggressive space mapping, a specific implementation that uses quasi-Newton type iteration, we have developed synthesis algorithms that are able to provide the topology of these CSRR and OCSRR-loaded lines in few steps. The most relevant aspect, however, is that this synthesis process is completely automatic, i.e., it does not require any action from the designers, other than initiating the algorithm. Moreover, this technique can be translated to other electrically small planar elements described by lumped element equivalent circuit models.This work has been partially supported by MICIIN-Spain (Projects TEC2010-17512 METATRANSFER, TEC2010-21520-C04-01 AVANSAT, CONSOLIDER EMET CSD2008-00066, and Grant AP2008-04707), Generalitat de Catalunya (Project 2009SGR-421), and MITyC-Spain (Project TSI-020100-2010-169 METASINTESIS). Ferran Martin is in debt to ICREA for supporting his work through an ICREA Academia Award (calls 2008 and 2013).Selga, J.; Rodríguez Pérez, AM.; Orellana, M.; Boria Esbert, VE.; Martín, F. (2014). Automated synthesis of transmission lines loaded with complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs) through aggressive space mapping (ASM). Applied Physics A. 117(2):557-565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-014-8703-xS5575651172G.V. Eleftheriades, K.G. 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Martín, Application of resonant-type metamaterial transmission lines to the design of enhanced bandwidth components with compact dimensions. Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett. 50, 127–134 (2008)I.H. Lin, M. De Vincentis, C. Caloz, T. Itoh, Arbitrary dual-band components using composite right/left handed transmission lines. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 52, 1142–1149 (2004)A.C. Papanastasiou, G.E. Georghiou, G.V. Eleftheriades, A quad-band Wilkinson power divider using generalized NRI transmission lines. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett. 18, 521–523 (2008)M. Durán-Sindreu, G. Sisó, J. Bonache, F. Martín, Planar multi-band microwave components based on the generalized composite right/left handed transmission line concept. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 58(12), 3882–3891 (2010)J. Bonache, I. Gil, J. García-García, F. Martín, Novel microstrip band pass filters based on complementary split ring resonators. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 54, 265–271 (2006)M. Gil, J. Bonache, J. García-García, J. Martel, F. Martín, Composite right/left handed (CRLH) metamaterial transmission lines based on complementary split rings resonators (CSRRs) and their applications to very wide band and compact filter design. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 55, 1296–1304 (2007)S. Lim, C. Caloz, T. Itoh, Metamaterial-based electronically-controlled transmission line structure as a novel leaky-wave antenna with tunable angle and beamwidth. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 52(12), 2678–2690 (2004)G. Zamora, S. Zuffanelli, F. Paredes, F. Javier Herraiz-Martínez, F. Martín, J. Bonache, Fundamental mode leaky-wave-antenna (LWA) using slot line and split-ring-resonator (SRR) based metamaterials. IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett. 12, 1424–1427 (2013)A.K. Iyer, G.V. Eleftheriades, Negative refractive index metamaterials supporting 2-D waves. in IEEE-MTT Int’l Microwave Symposium, vol 2, Seattle, WA, pp. 412–415 (2002)A.A. Oliner, A periodic-structure negative-refractive-index medium without resonant elements. In URSI Digest, IEEE-AP-S USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, San Antonio, TX, pp. 41 (2002)C. Caloz, T. Itoh, Application of the transmission line theory of left-handed (LH) materials to the realization of a microstrip LH transmission line. in Proceedings of IEEE-AP-S USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, vol 2, San Antonio, TX, pp. 412–415 (2002)F. Martín, F. Falcone, J. Bonache, R. Marqués, M. Sorolla, Split ring resonator based left handed coplanar waveguide. Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4652–4654 (2003)F. Falcone, T. Lopetegi, M.A.G. Laso, J.D. Baena, J. Bonache, R. Marqués, F. Martín, M. Sorolla (2004) Babinet principle applied to the design of metasurfaces and metamaterials. Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, paper 197401M. Durán-Sindreu, A. Vélez, F. Aznar, G. Sisó, J. Bonache, F. Martín, Application of open split ring resonators and open complementary split ring resonators to the synthesis of artificial transmission lines and microwave passive components. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 57, 3395–3403 (2009)A. Vélez, F. Aznar, M. Durán-Sindreu, J. Bonache, F. Martín, Stop-band and band-pass filters in coplanar waveguide technology implemented by means of electrically small metamaterial-inspired open resonators. IET Microw. Antennas Propag. 4, 712–716 (2004)J.D. Baena, J. Bonache, F. Martín, R. Marqués, F. Falcone, T. Lopetegi, M.A.G. Laso, J. García, I. Gil, M. Flores-Portillo, M. Sorolla, Equivalent circuit models for split ring resonators and complementary split rings resonators coupled to planar transmission lines. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 53, 1451–1461 (2005)M. Gil, J. Bonache, J. Selga, J. García-García, F. Martín, Broadband resonant type metamaterial transmission lines. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett. 17, 97–99 (2007)M. Durán-Sindreu, P. 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Particle Detection by Evaporation from Superfluid Helium

We report the first experiments in which 5-MeV alpha particles are detected via evaporation from a bath of superfluid helium. The α excites phonons and rotons in the liquid helium, and these excitations are sufficiently energetic to evaporate helium atoms when they reach the free surface of the liquid. The approximate overall efficiency of this process has been determined, and we compare this with expectations. We have also been able to detect evaporation induced by a flux of γ’s from a 137Cs source

Phonon amplification using evaporation and adsorption of helium

We report the results of experiments designed to investigate the feasibility of amplifying a phonon signal using the evaporation of helium from a superfluid film and its subsequent readsorption onto a helium-free surface. We envision a multistage amplifier in which helium is evaporated from a wafer with a helium film only on one side and then adsorbed onto the film-free surface of a similar wafer. The phonons created by the adsorption reach the film on the opposite side of the wafer and potentially desorb more helium than was evaporated by the first wafer. The amplification would come from the high ratio of the binding energy of a helium atom to a film-free surface relative to the binding energy to the liquid. A number of experiments are reported that investigate the efficiencies of the individual steps of the process. The gain per stage is found to be about 3 for high-energy densities in which multiphonon processes are possible. At low-energy densities, the energy deposited into a film-free wafer is found to be less than the original input energy, with the ratio of output to input energy 0.2. Since in applications requiring amplification the phonon density produced by the adsorption of helium on a wafer will be low, the configuration we have studied—phonons produced in silicon coated with a saturated He4 film—will not result in amplification. However, other configurations might improve the efficiency enough to make an amplifier possible

Removal of superfluid helium films from surfaces below 0.1 K

We have constructed an apparatus that is able to maintain a helium‐free surface at low temperature (T≤0.1 K) in a cell containing superfluid helium. We discuss the considerations involved in the design of this device, and describe tests that we have made to confirm that a film‐free surface has been produced