Nearly Quantum Limited Two-Stage SQUID Amplifiers for the Frequency Domain Multiplexing of TES Based X-ray and Infrared Detectors

Gottardi, L.; Kiviranta, Mikko; Kuur, J. van der; Akamatsu, Hiroki; Bruijn, M. P.; Hartog, R. den

doi:10.1109/tasc.2014.2369234

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The baseline readout approach for Athena uses 96-channel × 40-pixel frequency division multiplexing (FDM), that is being developed at SRON 5,13 . The low power SQUID amplifiers used in this system are developed at VTT (Finland) 14 . Alternative systems also under study use NIST/Stanford developed time/code division multiplexing (TDM/CDM) 15,16 of DC biased pixels.…”

Section: Baseline Readout Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition-edge sensor pixel parameter design of the microcalorimeter array for the x-ray integral field unit on Athena

et al. 2016

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The focal plane of the X-ray integral field unit (X-IFU) for ESA's Athena X-ray observatory will consist of ~ 4000 transition edge sensor (TES) x-ray microcalorimeters optimized for the energy range of 0.2 to 12 keV. The instrument will provide unprecedented spectral resolution of ~ 2.5 eV at energies of up to 7 keV and will accommodate photon fluxes of 1 mCrab (90 cps) for point source observations. The baseline configuration is a uniform large pixel array (LPA) of 4.28" pixels that is read out using frequency domain multiplexing (FDM). However, an alternative configuration under study incorporates an 18 × 18 small pixel array (SPA) of 2" pixels in the central ~ 36" region. This hybrid array configuration could be designed to accommodate higher fluxes of up to 10 mCrab (900 cps) or alternately for improved spectral performance (< 1.5 eV) at low count-rates. In this paper we report on the TES pixel designs that are being optimized to meet these proposed LPA and SPA configurations. In particular we describe details of how important TES parameters are chosen to meet the specific mission criteria such as energy resolution, count-rate and quantum efficiency, and highlight performance trade-offs between designs. The basis of the pixel parameter selection is discussed in the context of existing TES arrays that are being developed for solar and x-ray astronomy applications. We describe the latest results on DC biased diagnostic arrays as well as large format kilo-pixel arrays and discuss the technical challenges associated with integrating different array types on to a single detector die.

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Section: Baseline Readout Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition-edge sensor pixel parameter design of the microcalorimeter array for the x-ray integral field unit on Athena

et al. 2016

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“…To satisfy the requirements, we employed an ultra low noise two-stage SQUID developed at VTT. 3 The input current noise is about 1-2 pA/ √ Hz (For a detailed information, see [15]). The new SQUID improves the noise contribution to the TES performance.…”

Section: Setup and Tes Calorimeter Arraymentioning

confidence: 99%

Developments of Frequency-Domain Multiplexing of TES Arrays for a Future X-Ray Satellite Mission

Akamatsu

Gottardi

Adams

et al. 2015

IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.

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Arrays of transition-edge sensors (TESs) X-ray microcalorimeters can provide high energy resolution and a large area necessary for the future X-ray mission Athena (2028∼). An array with 4000 TESs will be employed on the X-ray satellite for the first time. The detector can achieve energy resolution of 2.5-3.0 eV and a high quantum efficiency in the energy range of 0.3-12 keV. Multiplexing the readout is necessary to minimize the number of readout amplifiers, the amount of wiring in the cryostat, and the cooling power required at the base-temperature. We are developing frequency-domain multiplexing (FDM) readout of TES microcalorimeters. In the FDM configuration, the TES is ac voltage biased at well-defined frequencies (between 2 and 6 MHz). For the development of the readout of the Athena instrument, we are using a nearly quantum-limited high-dynamic-range two-stage superconducting quantum interference device amplifier from VTT and high-Q lithographical LC resonators. In this paper, we will present the current status of the development of FDM readout of TES microcalorimeters. We will report on the results obtained using arrays fabricated at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center group.

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“…The detailed information about the VTT SQUID amplifiers can be found in L. . 17 For the multiplexing demonstration, we employed a higher dynamic range SQUIDs at the cost of slightly higher noise 4-6 pA/ √ Hz.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of frequency domain multiplexing for the X-ray Integral Field unit (X-IFU) on the Athena

et al. 2016

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We are developing the frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) read-out of transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) instrument on board of the future European X-Ray observatory Athena. The X-IFU instrument consists of an array of ∼3840 TESs with a high quantum efficiency (>90 %) and spectral resolution ∆E=2.5 eV @ 7 keV (E/∆E ∼2800). FDM is currently the baseline readout system for the X-IFU instrument. Using high quality factor LC filters and room temperature electronics developed at SRON and low-noise two stage SQUID amplifiers provided by VTT, we have recently demonstrated good performance with the FDM readout of Mo/Au TES calorimeters with Au/Bi absorbers. An integrated noise equivalent power resolution of about 2.0 eV at 1.7 MHz has been demonstrated with a pixel from a new TES array from NASA/Goddard (GSFC-A2). We have achieved X-ray energy resolutions ∼2.5 eV at AC bias frequency at 1.7 MHz in the single pixel read-out. We have also demonstrated for the first time an X-ray energy resolution around 3.0 eV in a 6 pixel FDM read-out with TES array (GSFC-A1). In this paper we report on the single pixel performance of these microcalorimeters under MHz AC bias, and further results of the performance of these pixels under FDM.

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Nearly Quantum Limited Two-Stage SQUID Amplifiers for the Frequency Domain Multiplexing of TES Based X-ray and Infrared Detectors

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Transition-edge sensor pixel parameter design of the microcalorimeter array for the x-ray integral field unit on Athena

Transition-edge sensor pixel parameter design of the microcalorimeter array for the x-ray integral field unit on Athena

Developments of Frequency-Domain Multiplexing of TES Arrays for a Future X-Ray Satellite Mission

Development of frequency domain multiplexing for the X-ray Integral Field unit (X-IFU) on the Athena

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