Abstract Large arrays of cryogenic detectors, including transition-edge sensors (TESs) or magnetic micro-calorimeters (MMCs), are needed for future experiments across a wide range of applications. Complexities in integration and cryogenic wiring have driven efforts to develop cryogenic readout technologies with large multiplexing factors while maintaining minimal readout noise. One such example is the microwave SQUID multiplexer ( μ mux), which couples an incoming TES or magnetic calorimeter signal to a unique GHz-frequency resonance that is modulated in frequency. Here, we present a hybrid scheme combining the microwave SQUID multiplexer with code division multiplexing: the impedance-modulated code-division multiplexer (Z-CDM), which may enable an order of magnitude increase in multiplexing factor particularly for low-bandwidth signal applications.
Abstract Large arrays of cryogenic detectors, including transition-edge sensors (TESs) or magnetic micro-calorimeters (MMCs), are needed for future experiments across a wide range of applications. Complexities in integration and cryogenic wiring have driven efforts to develop cryogenic readout technologies with large multiplexing factors while maintaining minimal readout noise. One such example is the microwave SQUID multiplexer ( μ mux), which couples an incoming TES or magnetic calorimeter signal to a unique GHz-frequency resonance that is modulated in frequency. Here, we present a hybrid scheme combining the microwave SQUID multiplexer with code division multiplexing: the impedance-modulated code-division multiplexer (Z-CDM), which may enable an order of magnitude increase in multiplexing factor particularly for low-bandwidth signal applications.
Superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) are highly sensitive detectors and can detect electromagnetic wave radiations from millimeter/submillimeter, optical to 𝑥/γrays, suitable for cosmology, astrophysics, quantum information, and biosensing. In principle, thousands of TESs even more are required to enhance the detection efficiency for large-scale survey. Among other multiplexing schemes, microwave SQUID multiplexer (μMUX), consisting of resonators and RF SQUIDs, has a bandwidth of several GHz, thus multiplexing factor on the order of thousands, more suitable for readout of large TES arrays. We designed and fabricated superconducting coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonators with a high qualityfactor and second-order gradient RF SQUID with two inductive coupling structures respectively. Then, we optimized the critical current density of the Josephson junction and measured the mutual inductance parameters of the second-order gradient structure SQUID, which are consistent with the simulation results. Finally, we fabricated a cryogenic μMUX chip based on RF SQUID and resonator. We discussed the results of the development of μMUX in more detail.
Multiplexed superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) readout systems are critical for measuring large arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES). We demonstrate a code-division SQUID multiplexing (CDM) architecture that is modulated by Walsh codes. Measurements and simulations of a prototype multiplexer show that this modulation scheme is not degraded by SQUID-noise aliasing, suppresses parasitic pickup, and has low levels of crosstalk. These properties enable this architecture to scale to large TES arrays. Furthermore, CDM modulation suppresses the 1/f knee in the noise to below 20 mHz, suggesting the use of this circuit for low-frequency-noise mitigation in more general SQUID applications.
Multiplexing technologies based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are crucial to cryogenic readout of superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) arrays. Demands for large-scale TES arrays promote the development of multiplexing technologies towards large multiplexing factors and low readout noise. The development of multiplexing technologies also facilitates new applications of TES arrays in a wide range of frequencies. Here we summarize different types of SQUID-based multiplexing technologies including time-division multiplexing, code-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing and microwave SQUID multiplexing. The advances and parameter constraints of each multiplexing technology are also discussed.
Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) are highly sensitive cryogenic detectors widely used in astronomy, high-energy physics and nuclear radiation detection. As TES is increasingly deployed in large-scale arrays to improve sensitivity and effective collecting area, multiplexed readout becomes essential for reducing system complexity. Microwave SQUID multiplexing (μMUX) technology combining superconducting resonators with radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference devices (RF-SQUIDs), represents a state-of-the-art solution. In this work, a room-temperature readout prototype for TES μMUX readout was designed. The system features a scalable two-stage architecture, including a highly integrated, chassis-independent front-end signal processing module and back-end event-reconstruction module. A high-frequency-resolution frequency-comb signal generation method with real-time, per-tone frequency and phase tunability was developed. In addition, optimization of the firmware implementation effectively overcomes the computational-resource bottleneck of the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The prototype supports autonomous frequency sweeping, parameter diagnostics, and online event reconstruction. Self-test shows S 21 phase noise better than −110 dBc/Hz at −30 dBm, remaining stable with increasing channel count. Joint tests with a μMUX cryogenic system successfully captured the RF-SQUID response and achieved an equivalent noise current of 44 pA/√Hz referred to the TES, validating the prototype as a practical solution of the room-temperature system for TES μMUX readout.
This thesis describes a multiplexer of Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) with low-noise, ultra-low power dissipation, and great scalability. The multiplexer circuit measures the magnetic flux in a large number of unshunted rf SQUIDs by coupling each SQUID to a superconducting microwave resonator tuned to a unique resonance frequency and driving the resonators from a common feedline. A superposition of microwave tones measures each SQUID simultaneously using only two coaxial cables between the cryogenic device and room temperature. This multiplexer will enable the instrumentation of arrays with hundreds of thousands of low-temperature detectors for new applications in cosmology, materials analysis, and nuclear non-proliferation.\nThe driving application of the Microwave SQUID Multiplexer is the readout of large arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensors, by some figures of merit the most sensitive detectors of electromagnetic signals over a span of more than nine orders of magnitude in energy, from 40 GHz microwaves to 200 keV gamma rays. Modern transition-edge sensors have noise-equivalent power as low as 10-20 W / [square root] Hz and energy resolution as good as 2 eV at 6 keV. These per-pixel sensitivities approach theoretical limits set by the underlying signals, motivating a rapid increase in pixel count to access new science. Compelling applications, like the non-destructive assay of nuclear material for treaty verification or the search for primordial gravity waves from inflation use arrays of these detectors to increase collection area or tile a focal plane.\nWe developed three generations of SQUID multiplexers, optimizing the first for flux noise (0.17 mu Phi0 / [square root] Hz) the second for input current noise (19 pA / [square root] Hz) and the last for practical multiplexing of large arrays of cosmic microwave background polarimeters based on transition-edge sensors. Using the last design we demonstrated multiplexed readout of prototype polarimeters with the performance required for the future development of a large-scale astronomical instrument.
Abstract A microwave SQUID multiplexer ( μ MUX) with a high multiplexing factor is a promising readout approach for large-scale superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometer arrays. This paper reports on the characteristics of 16-channel μ MUX prototype chips and a 60-channel readout module developed to read out TES bolometers for the Ali cosmic microwave background polarization telescope (AliCPT). We designed two different coupling structures between the resonator and the radio-frequency superconducting interference device: design A with a mutual inductance ( M T ) of 2.3 pH and design B with an M T of 6.5 pH. For design A, the mean resonator bandwidth ( Δ f BW ) and peak-to-peak frequency shift ( Δ f pp ) are approximately 610 kHz and 290 kHz, respectively. The measured mean open-loop current noise is less than 40 pA / Hz . Preliminary results indicate that crosstalk between adjacent channels is below 1% in our design A μ MUX chip. A measured channel with design B shows a Δ f BW of 586 kHz and a current noise of 33 pA / Hz , similar to the design A channels. In comparison, the Δ f pp of 803 kHz is much larger than the design A channels due to a larger M T . The readout module, consisting of two design A chips and two design B chips, shows 60 resonances, corresponding to a yield of 94%. In the future, we will place 32 design A channels within the same chip dimension to increase the channel density and build a larger readout module suitable for AliCPT TES arrays.