Demonstration of MHz frequency domain multiplexing readout of 37 transition edge sensors for high-resolution x-ray imaging spectrometers

Abstract

We report on the development and demonstration of a MHz frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) technology to read out arrays of cryogenic transition edge sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeters. In our FDM scheme, TESs are AC-biased at different resonant frequencies in the low MHz range through an array of high-$Q$ LC resonators. The current signals of all TESs are summed at superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). We have demonstrated multiplexing for a readout of 31 pixels using room temperature electronics, high-$Q$ LC filters and TES arrays developed at SRON, and SQUID arrays from VTT. We repeated this on a second setup with 37 pixels. The summed X-ray spectral resolutions $@$ 5.9 keV are $\Delta E_{31pix\mathrm{MUX}}=2.14\pm 0.03$ eV and $\Delta E_{37pix\mathrm{MUX}}=2.23\pm 0.03$ eV. The demonstrated results are comparable with other multiplexing approaches. There is potential to further improve the spectral resolution and to increase the number of multiplexed TESs, and to open up applications for TES X-ray microcalorimeters.

arXiv comment6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication on Applied physics letters

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Supporting quantum technologies with an ultra-low loss silicon photonics platform
• Transition-Edge Sensors for cryogenic X-ray imaging spectrometers
• Thermal crosstalk of X-ray transition-edge sensor micro-calorimeters under frequency domain multiplexing readout
• The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase
• Optical Calibration of a Frequency-Domain-Multiplexed X-Ray TES Microcalorimeter Array via Photon-Number-Resolved Statistics