Energy sensitive detection of heavy ions with transition edge calorimeters

Status and results of a research project are reported, which aims at developing calorimetric low temperature detectors for heavy ions. The special conditions for the detection of energetic heavy ions are discussed. The response of an aluminium transition edge calorimeter, operated at about 1.5 K, to the impact of heavy ions was investigated. The observed energy resolutions ΔE/E = 3.9 x 10-3 for 5.9MeV/u 208Pb-ions, ΔE/E = 1.6 x 10-3 for 4.8MeV/u 58Ni-ions and ΔE/E = 4.3 x 10-3 for 100MeV/u 20Ne-ions are most probably not yet limited by the intrinsic detector resolution. The present results already represent an improvement over conventional solid state detectors and ionization chambers. (orig.)