Title: NIST Develops Advanced Cryogenic Decay Energy Spectrometry for Radioactive Detection
Summary:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a highly sensitive technique for detecting and measuring radioactive decays using cryogenic detectors. The method, called cryogenic decay energy spectrometry, involves cooling Transition Edge Sensors (TES) to extremely low temperatures (below 0.05 K) using a dilution refrigerator. These ultra-sensitive sensors, combined with Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) amplifiers, can detect even the smallest temperature changes caused by individual radioactive decays.
The technique works by placing a radioactive absorber in thermal contact with the TES. Each decay generates a tiny pulse of heat, whose amplitude is proportional to the energy released. By measuring these pulses, researchers can build up a unique “fingerprint” for each radionuclide, allowing for precise identification and quantification. The method requires careful fabrication of the absorber using gravimetric deposition techniques.
NIST’s cryogenic decay energy spectrometry has significant implications for fundamental physics research and practical applications such as nuclear forensics. The combination of cryogenic cooling, ultra-sensitive detectors, and precise fabrication methods aims to achieve the highest accuracy in radioactive decay measurements, advancing our understanding of nuclear processes and enabling more reliable detection and analysis of radioactive materials.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/laboratories/tools-instruments/cryogenic-decay-energy-spectrometry
Keywords: Cryogenic, Decay Energy Spectrometry, Transition Edge Sensors (TES)
