Microcalorimeter Array Development for the ATHENA X-Ray Integral Field Unit

Authors :: Smith, Stephen
Adams, J. S
Bandler, S. R
Chervenak, James A
Datesman, Aaron M
Eckart, M. E
Ewin, A. J
Finkbeiner, F. M
Hummatov, R
Kelley, R. L
Kilbourne, C. A
Miniussi, A. R
Porter, F. S
Sadleir, J. S
Sakai, K
Wakeham, N
Wassell, E. J
Akamatsu, H
Gottardi, L
den Hartog, R. H
Jackson, B. D
van der Kuur, J
Bennett, D. A
Doriese, W. R
Hilton, G. C
Swetz, D
Ullom, J. N
Publication Year :: 2018
Publisher :: United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 2018.
Abstract: The X-ray integral field unit (X-IFU) for ESA's Athena X-ray observatory will consist of 3840 AC-biased transition edge sensors (TESs), read out using frequency domain multiplexing (FDM). In this paper we describe details of the latest pixels geometries that are being designed for the current baseline array configuration. This includes details on how important TES properties (transition parameters, thermal design of the pixels, absorber composition) are being optimized to meet the target energy resolution, count-rate and quantum efficiency. We also present the latest design optimizations specifically targeted at mitigating AC-bias phenomena in Mo/Au TESs that can degrade performance.

Tools