Characterization of an Al-STJ-based X-ray detector with monochromatized synchrotron radiation

The characterization of an Al-STJ-based detector with Pb absorber was performed with monochromatized synchrotron radiation. Detector response was measured in the energy range from 3 to 10 keV. A small non-linearity of the signal pulse height was detected, probably due to the escape of recombination phonons from the detector. The non-linearity can be described by a second order polynomial function. Additionally, detector signals were recorded while an X-ray beam of 50 mum diameter was directed to several locations on and near the absorber. For a well-aligned beam, detector artefacts are of at least two orders of magnitude lower intensity than the absorber events. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.