No Arabic abstract
Transition-edge sensor X-ray microcalorimeters are usually calibrated empirically, as the most widely-used calibration metric, optimal filtered pulse height (OFPH), in general has an unknown dependance on photon energy, $E_{gamma}$. Because the calibration function can only be measured at specific points where photons of a known energy can be produced, this unknown dependence of OFPH on $E_{gamma}$ leads to calibration errors and the need for time-intensive calibration measurements and analysis. A calibration metric that is nearly linear as a function of $E_{gamma}$ could help alleviate these problems. In this work, we assess the linearity of a physically motivated calibration metric, $E_{Joule}$. We measure calibration pulses in the range 4.5 keV$<$$E_{gamma}$$<$9.6 keV with detectors optimized for 6 keV photons to compare the linearity properties of $E_{Joule}$ to OFPH. In these test data sets, we find that $E_{Joule}$ fits a linear function an order of magnitude better than OFPH. Furthermore, calibration functions using $E_{J}$, an optimized version of $E_{Joule}$, are linear within the 2-3 eV noise of the data.
We demonstrate the code-division multiplexed (CDM) readout of eight transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters. The energy resolution is 3.0 eV (full width at half-maximum) or better at 5.9 keV, with a best resolution of 2.3 eV and a mean of 2.6 eV over the seven modulated detectors. The flux-summing CDM system is described and compared with similar time-division multiplexed (TDM) readout. We show that the sqrt(Npixels) multiplexing disadvantage associated with TDM is not present in CDM. This demonstration establishes CDM as both a simple route to higher performance in existing TDM microcalorimetric experiments and a long-term approach to reaching higher multiplexing factors.
We are developing X-ray microcalorimeters as a backup option for the baseline detectors in the X-IFU instrument on board the ATHENA space mission led by ESA and to be launched in the early 2030s.5$times$5 mixed arrays with TiAu transition-edge sensor (TES), which have different high aspect ratios and thus high resistances, have been designed and fabricated to meet the energy resolution requirement of the X-IFU instrument. Such arrays can also be used to optimise the performance of the Frequency Domain Multiplexing (FDM) readout and lead to the final steps for the fabrication of a large detector array. In this work we present the experimental results from tens of the devices with an aspect ratio (length-to-width) ranging from 1-to-1 up to 6-to-1, measured in a single-pixel mode with a FDM readout system developed at SRON/VTT. We observed a nominal energy resolution of about 2.5 eV at 5.9 keV at bias frequencies ranging from 1 to 5 MHz. These detectors are proving to be the best TES microcalorimeters ever reported in Europe, being able to meet not only the requirements of the X-IFU instrument, but also those of other future challenging X-ray space missions, fundamental physics experiments, plasma characterization and material analysis.
We are developing code-division multiplexing (CDM) systems for transition-edge sensor arrays with the goal of reaching multiplexing factors in the hundreds. We report on x-ray measurements made with a four-channel prototype CDM system that employs a flux-summing architecture, emphasizing data-analysis issues. We describe an empirical method to determine the demodulation matrix that minimizes cross-talk. This CDM system achieves energy resolutions of between 2.3 eV and 3.0 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV.
We are preparing for an ultra-high resolution x-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms using an x-ray spectrometer based on an array of superconducting transition-edge-sensor microcalorimeters developed by NIST. The instrument has excellent energy resolutions of 2 - 3 eV (FWHM) at 6 keV and a large collecting area of about 20 mm^2. This will open new door to investigate kaon-nucleus strong interaction and provide new accurate charged-kaon mass value.
Transition-edge sensors (TESs) are used as very sensitive thermometers in microcalorimeters aimed at detection of different wavelengths. In particular, for soft X-ray astrophysics, science goals require very high resolution microcalorimeters which can be achieved with TESs coupled to suitable absorbers. For many applications there is also need for a high number of pixels which typically requires multiplexing in the readout stage. Frequency Domain Multiplexing (FDM) is a common scheme and is the baseline proposed for the ATHENA mission. FDM requires biasing the TES in AC at MHz frequencies. Recently there has been reported degradation in performances under AC with respect to DC bias. In order to assess the performances of TESs to be used with FDM, it is thus of great interest to compare the performances of the same device both under AC and DC bias. This requires two different measurement setups with different processes for making the characterization. We report in this work the preliminary results of a single pixel characterization performed on a TiAu TES under AC and afterwards under DC bias in different facilities. Extraction of dynamical parameters and noise performances are compared in both cases as a first stage for further AC/DC comparison of these devices.