QUASY

QUASY (Quantum Sensor Platform for Synchrotron X-ray Spectroscopy) is a project funded by the EXU initiative KIT Future Fields, Stage II. Within QUASY, the collaborating KIT institutes IPS, IMS, and INE aim to demonstrate the feasibility of an x-ray quantum sensor array using a universal, compact, and modular platform that allows for the operation at the X-SPEC, CAT-ACT, INE, and SUL-X beamlines.

X-ray spectroscopy at synchrotron light sources has emerged as one of the most powerful tools available worldwide for the characterization of the electronic and chemical structure of surfaces, interfaces, and bulk materials. While existing x-ray spectrometers provide either excellent resolution at low efficiency or moderate resolution at high efficiency, magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) might be a “gamechanger” as they promise both, outstanding energy resolution and extremely high detection efficiency. MMCs are ultra-sensitive cryogenic particle detectors that are based on superconducting quantum technology.

The new instrumentation will not only greatly advance the available experimental techniques, but also allow for the study of radionuclide materials, of small or low-concentration samples, and of samples in in situ and operando environments.

Project Partners
  • KIT-IMS (Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kempf)
  • KIT-INE (Dr. Tonya Vitova)
Literature
  • S. Kempf, A. Fleischmann, L. Gastaldo, and C. Enss, “Physics and Applications of Metallic Magnetic Calorimeters“, J. Low. Temp. Phys. 193 (2018) 365–379.
  • L. Weinhardt, R. Steininger, D. Kreikemeyer-Lorenzo, S. Mangold, D. Hauschild, D. Batchelor, T. Spangenberg, and C. Heske, “X-SPEC: a 70 eV to 15 keV undulator beamline for X-ray and electron spectroscopies“, J. Synchrotron Rad. 28 (2021) 609–617.
  • D. Hengstler, M. Keller, C. Schötz, J. Geist, M. Krantz, S. Kempf, L. Gastaldo, A. Fleischmann, T. Gassner, G. Weber, R. Märtin, Th. Stöhlker, and C. Enss, “Towards FAIR; first measurements of metallic magnetic calorimeters for high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy at GSI“, Phys. Scr. T166 (2015) 014054.