AC/DC Characterization of a Ti/Au TES with Au/Bi Absorber for X-ray Detection

Transition-edge sensors (TESs) are used as very sensitive thermometers in microcalorimeters aimed at detection of different wavelengths. In particular, for soft X-ray astrophysics, science goals require very high-resolution microcalorimeters which can be achieved with TESs coupled to suitable absorbers. For many applications, there is also...

Study of TES Detector Transition Curve to Optimize the Pixel Design for Frequency-Division Multiplexing Readout

Superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) are highly sensitive detectors. Based on the outstanding performance on spectral resolution, the X-ray integral field unit (X-IFU) instrument on-board athena will be equipped with a large array of TES-based microcalorimeters. For optimal performance in terms of the energy resolution, it is...

Development of a Ti/Au TES Microcalorimeter Array as a Backup Sensor for the Athena/X-IFU Instrument

We are developing a transition edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter array based on a Ti/Au superconducting bilayer, as a backup option for the X-IFU instrument on the Athena X-ray observatory. The array is read out by a frequency-division multiplexing readout system using a 1–5 MHz frequency band. Extensive research collaborations between NASA...

Complex impedance of TESs under AC bias using FDM readout system

The next generation of Far-infrared and X-ray space observatories will require detector arrays with thousands of transition edge sensor (TES) pixel. It is extremely important to have a tool that is able to characterize all the pixels and that can give a clear picture of the performance of the devices. In particular, we refer to those aspects...

Ultra-low noise TES bolometer arrays for SAFARI instrument on SPICA

SRON is developing ultra-low noise Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) based on a superconducting Ti/Au bilayer on a suspended SiN island with SiN legs for the SAFARI instrument aboard the SPICA mission. We successfully fabricated TESs with very narrow (0.5-0.7 μm) and thin (0.25 μm) SiN legs on different sizes of SiN islands using deep...

Complex impedance and equivalent bolometer, analysis of a low noise bolometer for SAFARI

Transition-edge-sensor (TES) bolometers are the chosen detector technology for the SAFARI Imaging Spectrometer on the SPICA telescope. For this mission, SRON is developing bolometers, each consisting of a TiAu TES that is weakly coupled to the thermal bath through thin legs of silicon nitride. In order to understand and optimize the bolometer...

Effect of magnetic fields on TiAu TES bolometers for the SAFARI instrument on the SPICA FIR telescope

At the Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON) we are developing Transition Edge Sensors (TES) bolometers for the SAFARI Imaging Spectrometer on the SPICA telescope. With the current design of the SPICA telescope a background magnetic field of about a Gauss with fluctuations of a couple percent is expected. The effect of this external...

AC bias characterization of low noise bolometers for SAFARI using an open-loop frequency domain SQUID-based multiplexer operating between 1 and 5 MHz

SRON is developing the Frequency Domain Multiplexing (FDM) read-out and the ultra low NEP TES bolometers array for the infra-red spectrometer SAFARI on board of the Japanese space mission SPICA. The FDM prototype of the instrument requires critical and complex optimizations. For single pixel characterization under AC bias we are developing a...

Distributed TES model for designing low noise bolometers approaching SAFARI instrument requirements

Transition edge sensors (TES) are the chosen detector technology for the SAFARI imaging spectrometer on the SPICA telescope. The TES are required to have an NEP of 2–3 × 10?19 W/? Hz to take full advantage of the cooled mirror. SRON has developed TiAu TES bolometers for the short wavelength band (30–60 ?m). The TES are on SiN membranes, in which...

Low-noise transition edge sensor (TES) for SAFARI instrument on SPICA