Development of fast, background-limited transition-edge sensors for the background-limited infrared/sub-mm spectrograph (BLISS) for SPICA

Andrew D. Beyer; M. Kenyon; P. M. Echternach; B. Bumble; M. C. Runyan; T. Chui; C. M. Bradford; W. A. Holmes; J. J. Bock

doi:10.1117/12.926326

24 September 2012 Development of fast, background-limited transition-edge sensors for the background-limited infrared/sub-mm spectrograph (BLISS) for SPICA

Andrew D. Beyer, M. Kenyon, P. M. Echternach, B. Bumble, M. C. Runyan, T. Chui, C. M. Bradford, W. A. Holmes, J. J. Bock

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8452, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI; 84520G (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926326
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

We report experimental progress toward demonstrating background-limited arrays of membrane-isolated transition-edge sensors (TESs) for the Background Limited Infrared/Sub-mm Spectrograph (BLISS). BLISS is a space-borne instrument with grating spectrometers for wavelengths λ= 35-435 μm and with R= λ/Δλ~500. The goals for BLISS TESs are: noise equivalent power (NEP) = 5×10^-20 W/Hz^1/2 and response time τ<30ms. We expect background-limited performance from bilayers TESs with T_C=65mK and G=15fW/K. However, such TESs cannot be operated at 50mK unless stray power on the devices, or dark power P_D, is less than 200aW. We describe criteria for measuring P_D that requires accurate knowledge of T_C. Ultimately, we fabricated superconducting thermistors from Ir (T_C≥135mK) and Mo/Cu proximitized bilayers, where T_C is the thermistor transition temperature. We measured the Ir TES arrays in our 45mK base temperature adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator test system, which can measure up to eight 1x32 arrays simultaneously using a time-division multiplexer, as well as our single-pixel test system which can measure down to 15mK. In our previous Ir array measurements our best reported performance was NEP=2.5×10^-19 W/Hz^1/2 and τ~5ms for straight-beam TESs. In fact, we expected NEP 1.5×10^-19W/Hz^1/2for meander beam TESs, but did not achieve this previously due to 1/f noise. Here, we detail improvements toward measuring the expected NEP and demonstrate NEP=(1.3±0.2)×10^-19W/Hz^1/2 in our single-pixel test system and NEP=(1.6±0.3)×10^-19W/Hz^1/2 in our array test system.

Citation Download Citation

Andrew D. Beyer, M. Kenyon, P. M. Echternach, B. Bumble, M. C. Runyan, T. Chui, C. M. Bradford, W. A. Holmes, and J. J. Bock "Development of fast, background-limited transition-edge sensors for the background-limited infrared/sub-mm spectrograph (BLISS) for SPICA", Proc. SPIE 8452, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 84520G (24 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926326

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available