Prototype system for superconducting quantum interference device multiplexing of large-format transition-edge sensor arrays

Abstract

We discuss the implementation of a time-division superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexing system for the instrumentation of large-format transition-edge sensor arrays. We cover the design and integration of cryogenic SQUID multiplexers and amplifiers, signal management and wiring, analog interface electronics, a digital feedback system, serial-data streaming and management, and system configuration and control. We present data verifying performance of the digital-feedback system. System noise and bandwidth measurements demonstrate the feasibility of adapting this technology for a broad base of applications, including x-ray materials analysis and imaging arrays for future astronomy missions such as Constellation-X (x-ray) and the SCUBA-2 instrument (submillimeter) for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope.

Opportunities for mesoscopics in thermometry and refrigeration: Physics and applications

“…The selfcooling property of the SINIS bolometer can also be used to compensate for excessive background loading, thus effectively giving it a larger dynamic range. The main obstacle towards constructing large arrays of SINIS based HEBs is that their impedance ͑typically 1 -100 k⍀͒ is hard to match to the existing cryogenic SQUID multiplexers ͑Chervenak et al, 1999; Yoon et al, 2001;de Korte et al, 2003;Lanting et al, 2005;Reintsema et al, 2003͒. In principle, one could apply superconducting transformers to match the SQUID noise, but transformers with sufficient impedance transformation range are quite large, which makes this approach unpractical.…”

EURECA: a European-Japanese microcalorimeter array

“…Given the use of BCC, the relative small number of coincident events in one column, and the generally steep X-ray energy spectra for astronomical sources, the required dynamic range for one column is at most about twice that of a single pixel. Obviously the electronics has to be significantly better, resulting in an electronics dynamic range requirement of about 5 , respectively. This creates a SQUID dynamic range of approximately +/-10 6 Hz 1/2 .…”

“…An overview 4 of both technologies has been given at LTD-11. TDM is pioneered by the cryogenic detector group at NIST, Boulder 5,6,7 . FDM is under development at Berkeley 8 , ISAS 9 , and SRON 10,11 .…”

Progress toward BLISS, the background-limited infrared-submillimeter spectrograph for SPICA

“…At NIST we are developing a SQUID time domain MUX (TDM) suited to the BLISS requirements. The readout will use the new gangable 11-way linear MUX architecture which is an improvement over the standard 32-way system, 20 and we have a low-power implementation specifically tailored for BLISS which uses a reduced critical current of the SQUID switches and an increased SQUID input inductance and shunt resistance. As with all modern TDM designs, the SQUID inductors are gradiometer wound to reduce magnetic field sensitivity.…”