NUCLEAR RECOIL MEASUREMENTS IN SUPERHEATED SUPERCONDUCTING GRANULE DETECTORS

The response of Superheated Superconducting Granule (SSG) devices to n uclear recoils has been explored by irradiating SSG detectors with a 7 0MeV neutron beam. In the past we have tested Al SSG and more recently , measurements have been performed with Sn and Zn detectors. The aim o f the experiments was to test the sensitivity of SSG detectors to reco il energies down to a few keV. In this paper, the preliminary results of the neutron irradiation of a SSG detector made of Sn granules 15-20 mum in diameter will be discussed. For the first time, recoil energy thresholds of approximately 1keV have been measured.