Superconducting Detectors for Photons from Millimeter Waves through Gamma Rays
Developing superconducting detectors for photons (X-rays to mm-waves) with high sensitivity, for applications in astronomy, materials analysis, and nuclear security.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to develop and apply superconducting detectors for photon detection from millimeter waves through gamma rays, supporting research in astronomy, materials analysis, and nuclear security.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; requires contacting a research adviser prior to application; applications reviewed quarterly.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research on novel cryogenic superconducting detectors and electronics that provide exceptional sensitivity and energy resolution for photon detection across a broad spectrum—from X-rays to millimeter waves and gamma rays. The research focuses on developing low-temperature (around 100 mK) superconducting microcalorimeters and bolometers, which utilize transition-edge sensors fabricated on micromachined structures. These detectors are read out with custom high-speed, low-noise SQUID preamplifiers developed in-house.
The program has demonstrated record-high energy resolution for energy-dispersive X-ray and gamma-ray detectors and some of the most sensitive infrared/submillimeter power detectors. Applications include X-ray microanalysis in scanning electron microscopes, gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear materials, and arrays of detectors for astronomy and other scientific fields.
Research areas include:
- Understanding nonequilibrium superconducting processes affecting detector performance.
- Designing novel micromachined structures for integrating detector arrays.
- Developing and testing detector arrays.
- Creating multiplexed superconducting integrated circuits for large array readouts.
- Applying these detectors in astronomy, materials analysis, nuclear non-proliferation, and other domains.
The fellowship is hosted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, within the Physical Measurement Laboratory, Quantum Electromagnetics Division.
