Microwave SQUID multiplexers for low-temperature detectors

Published

January 10, 2006

Author(s)

Kent D. Irwin, James A. Beall, W.Bertrand (Randy) Doriese, William Duncan, Gene C. Hilton, John Mates, Carl D. Reintsema, Dan Schmidt, Joel Ullom, Leila R. Vale, Barry L. Zink, Konrad Lehnert

Abstract

We report on the development of a SQUID multiplexer operated at microwave frequencies. This multiplexer can accommodate any detector that can be read out with SQUIDs, including transition-edge sensors, magnetic calorimeters, and superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction detectors. The total bandwidth, which is set by the HEMT amplifier, can be as high as 5 GHz, allowing the readout of $10^3-10^4$ low-bandwidth detectors into one coaxial cable. Alternatively, in a low-Q circuit each SQUID can have a bandwidth as high as 100-200 MHz, allowing multiplexing of high-bandwidth sensors, such as optical TES photon detectors and antenna-coupled hot-electron TES bolometers. Each SQUID must be flux biased at a sensitive point on its response curve. We describe a multiplexed flux biasing scheme that makes it possible to flux bias a large array of SQUIDs with only one additional coaxial cable. We further present a hybrid ''TDMA'' multiplexer optimized for the high dynamic range and slew rate of fast x-ray calorimeters.

Citation

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment

Volume

A559

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

microwave SQUID, multiplexer, transition-edge sensor

Citation

Irwin, K. , Beall, J. , Doriese, W. , Duncan, W. , Hilton, G. , Mates, J. , Reintsema, C. , Schmidt, D. , Ullom, J. , Vale, L. , Zink, B. and Lehnert, K. (2006), Microwave SQUID multiplexers for low-temperature detectors, Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment (Accessed October 27, 2025)