New detector developments for nuclear radiation

New detectors operated at temperatures in the millidegree range offer the possibility for detecting radiation of nuclear origin with improved energy resolution and energy threshold. Basic features of two types of such detectors are described: (1) Calorimetric detectors, measuring phonons via transition edge thermometers. The resistance matching problems of such thermometers can be solved with SQUID readout techniques. (2) Detectors based on superconducting tunnel diodes, measuring excitations of quasielectrons. Diffusion loss and ambiguity in signal response occurring with such diodes can be coped with by employing proper geometries and quasielectron trapping techniques. (author)