Implications of weak-link behavior on the performance of Mo/Au bilayer transition-edge sensors

Abstract

Understanding the physical properties of the superconducting-to-normal transition is fundamental for optimizing the design and performance of transition-edge sensors (TESs). Recent critical current IC measurements of square Mo/Au bilayer structures show that they act as weak superconducting links, exhibiting oscillatory, Fraunhofer-like behavior with applied magnetic field. In this paper, we investigate the implications of this behavior for TES x-ray detectors operated in the resistive transition. These devices include normal metal features used for absorber attachment and suppression of detector noise. We present extensive measurements of IC as a function of temperature T and field B, which show a complex temperature and current evolution when compared with the behavior expected from a simple geometry. We introduce a resistively shunted junction model for describing the TES resistive transition as a function of current I, temperature T, and magnetic field B. From this model, we calculate the R(T,I,B) transition and the logarithmic resistance sensitivity with respect to T and I (α and β, respectively), as a function of applied magnetic field and operating point within the resistive transition. Different examples are presented to illustrate the role of critical current on the transition parameters, and results are qualitatively compared with measurements. Results show that the important device parameters α and β exhibit oscillatory behavior with applied magnetic field due to the modulation of the critical current. This in turn affects the signal responsivity and noise, and the predicted energy resolution. These results show the significance of the critical current in determining the performance of TESs and how externally applied and self-induced magnetic fields can affect the transition and, thus, hold promise for future optimization.