Energy-resolving superconducting x-ray detectors with charge amplification due to multiple quasiparticle tunneling

Superconducting tunnel junctions coupled to superconducting absorbers may be used as high-resolution, high-efficiency x-ray spectrometers. We have tested devices with niobium x-ray absorbing layers coupled to aluminum layers that serve as quasiparticle traps. The energy resolution at 6 keV was 49 eV full width at half-maximum. We estimate that each quasiparticle tunnels an average of 19 times before recombining, increasing the total charge transferred and therefore decreasing the effects of electronic noise