Speaker
Description
Direct spectroscopy of low-energy nuclear recoils following beta decay offers a sensitive probe for physics beyond the Standard Model, but requires detectors combining sub-keV thresholds, eV-scale energy resolution, and fast response times. The Superconducting Array for Low-Energy Radiation (SALER) addresses these needs by integrating Superconducting Tunnel Junction (STJ) arrays directly into a rare-isotope beam-line for the in-situ implantation and decay spectroscopy of short-lived radioactive ions. In this talk, we will present the recent on-line commissioning of SALER’s 64-pixel STJ array using a stable 14N beam produced by the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). In particular, we will discuss the cryogenic and noise performance of the detector in the FRIB beam-line environment. We will also conclude the talk with an overview of the preparations currently underway for SALER’s first science run using 25Al, scheduled for early 2027.