Title :
Ultasensitive TES detectors for FIR space astronomy.
Author :
Morozov, Dmitry ; Mauskopf, Philip D. ; Ade, Peter ; Glowacka, Dorota M. ; Goldie, David ; Withington, Stafford ; Bruijn, Marcel ; De Korte, Pieter A J ; Hoevers, Henk ; Ridder, Marcel ; Gao, Jian-Rong ; Wild, Wolfgang
Author_Institution :
Cardiff Univ., Cardiff
Abstract :
We present results of the development of ultrasensitive transition edge superconducting (TES) detectors for the SAFARI far infrared (FIR) spectrometer, one of the instruments proposed for the Japanese-led SPICA telescope. Future FIR space missions require a combination of cooled optics and ultrasensitive detectors with noise equivalent power (NEP) levels on the order of 10-19 W/radic(Hz) or lower to be able to perform detailed spectroscopic surveys of the nearby and distant universe. We have developed TES detectors based on the mechanical suspension of an absorbing film connected to a TiAu bilayer thermometer on a thin SiN membrane. We describe the design of these detectors and measurements of their performance.
Keywords :
astronomical instruments; astronomical spectra; infrared spectrometers; superconducting photodetectors; FIR space astronomy; SAFARI far infrared spectrometer; cooled optics; noise equivalent power levels; space missions; thermometer; thin SiN membrane; ultrasensitive transition edge superconducting detectors; Astronomy; Finite impulse response filter; Infrared detectors; Infrared spectra; Instruments; Optical noise; Spectroscopy; Superconducting device noise; Superconducting photodetectors; Telescopes;
Conference_Titel :
Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves, 2008. IRMMW-THz 2008. 33rd International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Pasadena, CA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2119-0
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2120-6
DOI :
10.1109/ICIMW.2008.4665656
