Characterization of Transition Edge Sensors for the Simons Observatory

Abstract

The Simons Observatory is building both large (6 m) and small (0.5 m) aperture telescopes in the Atacama desert in Chile to observe the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation with unprecedented sensitivity. Simons Observatory telescopes in total will use over 60,000 transition edge sensor (TES) detectors spanning center frequencies between 27 and 285 GHz and operating near 100 mK. TES devices have been fabricated for the Simons Observatory by NIST, Berkeley, and HYPRES/SeeQC corporation. Iterations of these devices have been tested cryogenically in order to inform the fabrication of further devices, which will culminate in the final TES designs to be deployed in the field. The detailed design specifications have been independently iterated at each fabrication facility for particular detector frequencies. We present test results for prototype devices, with emphasis on NIST high frequency detectors. A dilution refrigerator was used to achieve the required temperatures. Measurements were made both with 4-lead resistance measurements and with a time domain Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) multiplexer system. The SQUID readout measurements include analysis of current vs voltage (IV) curves at various temperatures, square wave bias step measurements, and detector noise measurements. Normal resistance, superconducting critical temperature, saturation power, thermal and natural time constants, and thermal properties of the devices are extracted from these measurements.

arXiv comment9 Pages, 5 figures, Low Temperature Detectors 19

References in corpus (7)

• The Simons Observatory: Science goals and forecasts
• The Simons Observatory: Instrument Overview
• Characterization of the Mid-Frequency Arrays for Advanced ACTPol
• Highly-multiplexed microwave SQUID readout using the SLAC Microresonator Radio Frequency (SMuRF) Electronics for Future CMB and Sub-millimeter Surveys
• Advanced ACTPol Low Frequency Array: Readout and Characterization of Prototype 27 and 39 GHz Transition Edge Sensors
• Commercially fabricated antenna-coupled Transition Edge Sensor bolometer detectors for next generation Cosmic Microwave Background polarimetry experiment
• Simons Observatory large aperture receiver simulation overview

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Bolometer operating at the threshold for circuit quantum electrodynamics
• The Simons Observatory microwave SQUID multiplexing detector module design
• Transition Edge Sensors: Physics and Applications
• Design and Validation of a Cold Load for Characterization of CMB-S4 Detectors
• Optimal bolometer transfer function deconvolution for CMB experiments through maximum likelihood mapmaking
• In-flight gain monitoring of SPIDER's transition-edge sensor arrays
• Feedback-Controlled Beam Pattern Measurement Method Using a Power-Variable Calibration Source for Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes