X-ray energy spectrum measurements by an annular superconducting tunnel junction with trapped magnetic flux quanta.

We report on the 55Fe x-ray pulse height spectrum of an annular superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) collected without an external magnetic field. An energy resolution of 100 eV was obtained for the Kα line of the top electrode. The Josephson critical current and Fiske resonances were suppressed by the presence of trapped magnetic flux quanta which created a persistent current and self-generated magnetic field. The obtained energy resolution and the stability of the trapped magnetic flux under irradiation demonstrate the capability of an annular STJ device with trapped flux quanta to detect radiation without using the external magnetic field that is required in the conventional detection scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]