Demonstration of a 1820 channel multiplexer for transition-edge sensor bolometers

The scalability of most transition-edge sensor arrays is limited by the multiplexing technology, which combines their signals over a reduced number of wires and amplifiers. In this Letter, we present and demonstrate a multiplexer design optimized for transition-edge sensor bolometers with 1820 sensors per readout unit, a factor of two more than the previous state-of-the-art. The design is optimized for cosmic microwave background imaging applications, and it builds on previous microwave superconducting quantum interference device multiplexers by doubling the available readout bandwidth to the full 4–8 GHz octave. Evaluating the key performance metrics of yield, sensitivity, and crosstalk through laboratory testing, we find an end-to-end operable detector yield of 78%, a typical nearest-neighbor crosstalk amplitude of ∼0.4%, and a median white noise level of 83 pA/Hz due to the multiplexer, corresponding to an estimated contribution of 4% to the total system noise for a ground-based cosmic microwave background telescope. Additionally, we identify a possible path toward reducing resonator loss for future designs with reduced noise. We expect these developments to alleviate the system complexity, cryogenic requirements, and cost of future large arrays of low temperature detectors.

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Publication Details

Journal
Applied Physics Letters
Published
2025-10-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0290914
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Superconducting and THz Device Technology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.31
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article

Demonstration of a 1820 channel multiplexer for transition-edge sensor bolometers

Zeeshan Ahmed, Tammy J. Lucas, Cyndia Yu, Shannon M. Duff et al.
2 citations
Applied Physics Letters
Superconducting and THz Device Technology
2.31
article

Demonstration of a 1820 channel multiplexer for transition-edge sensor bolometers

Zeeshan Ahmed, Tammy J. Lucas, Cyndia Yu, Shannon M. Duff, Jason E. Austermann, James A. Beall, Richard A. Lew, Joel N. Ullom, Leila R. Vale, Michael Vissers, John A. B. Mates, Maximiliano Silva-Feaver, Johannes Hubmayr, Robinjeet Singh, Michael J. Link, J. C. Groh, Shawn Henderson, J. Van Lanen, D. Daniel
article en
2 citations

Abstract

The scalability of most transition-edge sensor arrays is limited by the multiplexing technology, which combines their signals over a reduced number of wires and amplifiers. In this Letter, we present and demonstrate a multiplexer design optimized for transition-edge sensor bolometers with 1820 sensors per readout unit, a factor of two more than the previous state-of-the-art. The design is optimized for cosmic microwave background imaging applications, and it builds on previous microwave superconducting quantum interference device multiplexers by doubling the available readout bandwidth to the full 4–8 GHz octave. Evaluating the key performance metrics of yield, sensitivity, and crosstalk through laboratory testing, we find an end-to-end operable detector yield of 78%, a typical nearest-neighbor crosstalk amplitude of ∼0.4%, and a median white noise level of 83 pA/Hz due to the multiplexer, corresponding to an estimated contribution of 4% to the total system noise for a ground-based cosmic microwave background telescope. Additionally, we identify a possible path toward reducing resonator loss for future designs with reduced noise. We expect these developments to alleviate the system complexity, cryogenic requirements, and cost of future large arrays of low temperature detectors.

Applied Physics LettersVol. 127(15)
Argonne National Laboratory (US), National Institute of Standards and Technology (US), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US), University of Colorado Boulder (US), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (US), University of Colorado System (US), Yale University (US), University of Illinois Chicago (US), University of Chicago (US), Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (US), Theiss Research (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Superconducting and THz Device Technology
2.31
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