Progress in the Development of Frequency-Domain Multiplexing for the X-ray Integral Field Unit on Board the Athena Mission

H. Akamatsu (Corresponding Author), L. Gottardi, J. van der Kuur, C. P. de Vries, M. P. Bruijn, J. A. Chervenak, Mikko Kiviranta, A. J. van den Linden, B. D. Jackson, A. Miniussi, K. Ravensberg, K. Sakai, S. J. Smith, N. Wakeham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Frequency-domain multiplexing (FDM) is the baseline readout system for the X-ray Integral Field Unit on board the Athena mission. Under the FDM scheme, TESs are coupled to a passive LC filter and biased with alternating current (AC bias) at MHz frequencies. Using high-quality-factor LC filters and room-temperature electronics developed at SRON and low-noise two-stage SQUID amplifiers provided by VTT, we have recently demonstrated good performance with the FDM readout of Mo/Au TES calorimeters with Au/Bi absorbers. We have achieved a performance requested for the demonstration model with the single-pixel AC bias (ΔE=1.8eV) and nine-pixel multiplexing (ΔE=2.6eV) modes. We have also demonstrated 14-pixel multiplexing with an average energy resolution of 3.3 eV, which is limited by nonfundamental issues related to FDM readout in our laboratory setup.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)737-744
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Low Temperature Physics
Volume199
Issue number3-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2020
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Athena
  • Transition-edge sensors
  • X-IFU
  • X-ray astronomy
  • X-ray calorimeters

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