Tunable Superconducting Properties of a-NbSi Thin Films and Application to Detection in Astrophysics

• DOI: 10.1007/s10909-010-0284-2
• Publication Date: 2010-11-11T20:01:19Z
• Authors: Olivier Crauste; Claire A. Marrach...; Laurent Bergé; Sophie Collin; Youri Dolgorouky; Stefanos Marnieros; Claudia Nones; Louis Dumoulin
• Keywords: Transition-edge sensors; Superconductivity; Bolometer; Condensed Matter - Superconductivity; FOS: Physical sciences; Electron-phonon coupling; [PHYS.COND.CM-S] Physics [physics]/Condensed Matter [cond-mat]/Superconductivity [cond-mat.supr-con]; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; [PHYS.COND.CM-S]Physics [physics]/Condensed Matter [cond-mat]/Superconductivity [cond-mat.supr-con]; Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con); 0103 physical sciences

We report on the superconducting properties of amorphous NbxSi1-x thin films. The normal-state resistance and critical temperatures can be separately adjusted to suit the desired application. Notably, the relatively low electron-phonon coupling of these films makes them good candidates for an "all electron bolometer" for Cosmological Microwave Background radiation detection. Moreover, this device can be made to suit both high and low impedance readouts.