Calorimetric Observation of Single {He}_2^* Excimers in a 100-mK He Bath

We report the first calorimetric detection of individual {He}_2^* excimers within a bath of superfluid ^4{He}. The detector used in this work is a single superconducting titanium transition edge sensor (TES) with an energy resolution of {∼ }1 {eV}, immersed directly in the helium bath. {He}_2^* excimers are produced in the surrounding bath using an external gamma-ray source. These excimers exist either as short-lived singlet or long-lived triplet states. We demonstrate detection (and discrimination) of both states: In the singlet case the calorimeter records the absorption of a prompt {≈ }15 {eV} photon, and in the triplet case the calorimeter records a direct interaction of the molecule with the TES surface, which deposits a distinct fraction of the {≈ }15 {eV}, released upon decay, into the surface. We also briefly discuss the detector fabrication and characterization.