Development of a transition edge sensor (TES) x-ray microcalorimeter toward exploring trace hydrated minerals in astromaterials

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14548
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 17010:Space and planetary sciences-related
• Research Institution: Rikkyo University (2023); High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (2022); Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Hayashi Tasuku 立教大学, 理学部, 助教 (00846842)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: X線 / 極低温検出器 / 地球外物質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we aim to improve the aperture ratio and effective area of the superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeter without degrading its energy bandwidth and spectral performance, thereby enabling the analysis of extraterrestrial materials using TES-EDS. To achieve a significant improvement in the effective area, we adopted a mushroom-shaped absorber structure that protrudes to cover the wiring space, which is considered dead space. We introduced a plating environment that ensures high thermal conductivity and successfully manufactured the device for the first time in Japan. Operational verification at low temperatures demonstrated an energy resolution of approximately 10 eV, meeting the required energy resolution and marking significant progress toward the analysis of extraterrestrial materials.

Free Research Field

X線天文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、サブマイクロスケールでの地球外物質の定量分析を目指し、低温検出器システムの開発を行ってきた。従来の定量分析システムでは、エネルギー分解能が120 eVと近接する特性X線のピーク分離や微量な元素の検出が困難であり、定量分析の精度にも課題があった。本研究で開発するTES-EDSシステムでは、エネルギーを2桁以上向上可能であり、地球外物質の分析で重要となる微量分析も可能となり、学術的意義は大きい。さらに、この分析システム材料分析やバイオテクノロジーなどの幅広い分野への応用が期待されており、社会的意義も大きい。