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Review of Scientific Instruments

Prototype system for superconducting quantum interference device multiplexing of large-format transition-edge sensor arrays

C. D. Reintsema, J. Beyer, Sae Woo Nam, Steven W. Deiker, Gene C Hilton, K. D. Irwin, John M. Martinis, Joel N. Ullom, Leila R. Vale, Mike MacIntosh

Published Sep 25, 2003• 100 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We discuss the implementation of a time-division superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexing system for the instrumentation of large-format transition-edge sensor arrays. We cover the design and integration of cryogenic SQUID multiplexers and amplifiers, signal management and wiring, analog interface electronics, a digital feedback system, serial-data streaming and management, and system configuration and control. We present data verifying performance of the digital-feedback system. System noise and bandwidth measurements demonstrate the feasibility of adapting this technology for a broad base of applications, including x-ray materials analysis and imaging arrays for future astronomy missions such as Constellation-X (x-ray) and the SCUBA-2 instrument (submillimeter) for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope.

DOI
10.1063/1.1605259

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We discuss the implementation of a time-division superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexing system for the instrumentation of large-format transition-edge sensor arrays. We cover the design and integration of cryogenic SQUID multiplexers and amplifiers, signal management and wiring, analog interface electronics, a digital feedback system, serial-data streaming and management, and system configuration and control. We present data verifying performance of the digital-feedback system. System noise and bandwidth measurements demonstrate the feasibility of adapting this technology for a broad base of applications, including x-ray materials analysis and imaging arrays for future astronomy missions such as Constellation-X (x-ray) and the SCUBA-2 instrument (submillimeter) for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope.
We report on the design and performance of our second-generation 32-channel time-division multiplexer developed for the readout of large-format arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensors. We present design issues and measurement results on its gain, bandwidth, noise, and cross talk. In particular, we discuss noise performance at low frequency, important for long uninterrupted submillimeter/far-infrared observations, and present a scheme for mitigation of low-frequency noise. Also, results are presented on the decoupling of the input circuit from the first-stage feedback signal by means of a balanced superconducting quantum interference device pair. Finally, the first results of multiplexing several input channels in a switched, digital flux-lock loop are shown.
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.
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Abstract The readout system with a high multiplexing ratio has become a bottleneck limiting the application of large-scale Transition Edge Sensor (TES) detector arrays. In recent years, the microwave superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexer has emerged as a key technology for effectively reading large-scale cryogenic detector arrays. Currently, the microwave SQUID multiplexer is being adopted by an increasing number of experiments due to its capability of achieving a multiplexing ratio of 2000:1 within the readout bandwidth. In this study, we developed a 32-channel microwave SQUID multiplexer prototype. And we measured 8 channels of the prototype. The measured equivalent noise current of the prototype reached 154 pA/√ Hz.
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.