Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have received an international award for their pioneering work in x-ray spectroscopy using superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters. The team, part of the international HEATES collaboration, was recognized for their groundbreaking measurements of exotic atoms using a TES spectrometer.
The NIST researchers achieved energy resolution over two orders of magnitude better than previous measurements with conventional semiconductor x-ray spectrometers. This significant improvement allowed them to detect small spectral shifts caused by strong-force interactions in exotic atoms like pionic helium and carbon. Their work was recently acknowledged as a “Highlight of the Year” at RIKEN for being the first application of a TES spectrometer in hadronic-atom x-ray spectroscopy.
The team’s success has led to the deployment of a dedicated spectrometer to the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), where they will perform follow-on measurements of exotic atoms later this year. This award recognizes the team’s significant contributions to advancing research in quantum electromagnetics and quantum sensors.
Keywords: Microcalorimeter, TES, Exotic atoms, Spectrometer, Energy resolution
