Characterization of an Ultra-Sensitive Transition-Edge Sensor for Space-Borne Far-IR/Sub-mm Spectroscopy

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 199 - 202
• Main Authors: Beyer, A D, Kenyon, M E, Echternach, P M, Eom, B, Bueno, J, Day, P K, Bock, J J, Bradford, C M, Khosropanah, P, Ridder, M, Bruijn, M, Hoevers, H, Gao, J R
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.06.2011; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Attenuators; Detectors; Devices; Electric power generation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electromagnets; Equivalence; Exact sciences and technology; Extraterrestrial measurements; Far-infrared spectrometer; General equipment and techniques; Heating; Infrared spectroscopy; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Joints; Noise; Physics; Power measurement; Power networks and lines; Sensors; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; submillimeter spectrometer; Superconductivity; Temperature measurement; Thermistors; transition-edge sensor; Users connections and in door installation; Various equipment and components; {\rm Si}_{\rm x}{\rm N}_{\rm y} thermal properties; Far-infrared spectrometer; Measurement sensor; Thermal behavior; Thermometry; Connection; Instrumentation; Lossy medium; transition-edge sensor; Experimental device; submillimeter spectrometer; Temperature measurement; Thermal properties; Far infrared radiation; Infrared spectrometry; Upper bound; Infrared spectrometers; Si; Attenuator; Spaceborne instruments; Ny thermal properties
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2010.2083612

We measured the noise equivalent power (NEP) of an ultra-sensitive membrane-isolated transition-edge sensor (TES) designed for the SpicA FAR Infrared instrument (SAFARI) along with several Johnson noise Thermometry Devices (JTDs) simultaneously in a "dark" experimental setup. Our goal was to characterize the dark power P D present in our experimental setup and its effect on the measured NEP. By employing resistive attenuators, filters, lossy coaxial connections, and a light-tight box, we reduced P D to 0.25 fW in our setup. For the TES, G was measured to be (325±25) fW/K at T C =78 mK giving an upper-limit expected NEP of (3.5±0.25)×10 -19 W/Hz 1/2 . We measured an actual NEP on the TES equal to (6.5±1.5)×10 -19 W/Hz 1/2 , which is approximately double the expected value and likely due to residual electrical dark power in our setup.