Development of Kilo-Pixel Arrays of Transition-Edge Sensors for X-Ray Spectroscopy

Authors :: Adams, J. S
Bandler, S. R
Busch, S. E
Chervenak, J. A
Chiao, M. P
Eckart, M. E
Ewin, A. J
Finkbeiner, F. M
Kelley, R. L
Kelly, D. P
Kilbourne, C. A
Leutenegger, M. A
Porst, J.-P
Porter, F. S
Ray, C. A
Sadleir, J. E
Smith, S. J
Wassell, E. J
Doriese, W. B
Fowler, J. W
Hilton, G. C
Irwin, K. D
Reintsema, C. D
Smith, D. R
Swetz, D. S
Publication Year :: 2012
Publisher :: United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 2012.
Abstract: We are developing kilo-pixel arrays of transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters for future X-ray astronomy observatories or for use in laboratory astrophysics applications. For example, Athena/XMS (currently under study by the european space agency) would require a close-packed 32x32 pixel array on a 250-micron pitch with < 3.0 eV full-width-half-maximum energy resolution at 6 keV and at count-rates of up to 50 counts/pixel/second. We present characterization of 32x32 arrays. These detectors will be readout using state of the art SQUID based time-domain multiplexing (TDM). We will also present the latest results in integrating these detectors and the TDM readout technology into a 16 row x N column field-able instrument.

Tools