Operation of superconducting nano-stripline detector (SSLD) mounted on cryogen-free cryostat

Recently, various types of superconducting detectors have been applied to time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF MS) because they can achieve 100% detection efficiency for a wide mass range from atoms to huge biomolecules. The wide mass range coverage is impossible with conventional microchannel plate (MCP) ion detectors. Superconducting stripline detectors (SSLD) that consist of several hundreds of superconducting nanostrips with a width of < 1 μm and a thickness of a few tens nm have a high sensitivity for biomolecules and a response time of ∼ 1 ns that cannot be achieved by other superconducting detectors. For the practical use of SSLD, an easy operation system is necessary. In this study, we will present the proper operation of SSLD which is mounted on a cryogen-free pulse tube cryostat.