Introduction to Microcalorimeters

Scematic diagram of micro-calorimeterWe are in the business of measuring the energy of X-rays from astromomical objects (why?), and we do that with microcalorimeters. A microcalorimeter, as shown to the left, works by measuring the energy of an X-ray.

An X-ray photon is absorbed by the detector, causing it to heat up. We measure this heat with a temperature-sensitive resistor (known as a thermistor). The absorber is partially isolated from the thermistor, so that the absorber temperature can stabilize before the thermistor temperature starts to rise. (Why is that necessary?)

The heatsink is kept at a constant temperature. Once the thermistor heats up to the temperature of the absorber, it begins to (more slowly) cool down to the temperature of the heatsink. After a few milliseconds the thermistor has returned to the heatsink temperature, and is ready to detect another X-ray photon.


Find out more about X-ray astronomy

Find out more about microcalorimeters

Read our Physics Today article


This page written and maintained by Kevin R. Boyce (email: Kevin.R.Boyce@gsfc.nasa.gov)
This page was last modified on Friday, 10-Oct-2014 14:10:35 EDT