SEEQC, INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: S1

Description

SeeQC (HYPRES) proposes to develop cryogenic multiplexing readout circuitry for superconducting sensor arrays. Our design and advanced multi-layer Niobium fabrication process will enable us to make a compact SQUID based readout fornbsp;large scale superconducting bolometer arrays.Arrays of superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) are frequently deployed in instruments for far infrared (IR) astronomy, particularly for cosmic microwave background (CMB) measurements. In order to reduce thermal loading due to wiring between the detectors and readout, as well as to reduce the cost of readout electronics, multiplexing has become a key technology for enabling detectors arrays at the kilo-pixel level and beyond. Multiplexing allows readout of multiple detectors on a single line by separating the signal from each detector in either the time or frequency domain. Current NASA missions employing time domain multiplexing (TDM) include HAWC+ and PIPER. These experiments feature a SQUID based TDM readout circuitnbsp;that is interfacednbsp;to the TES array through an Indium bump bonding process.Next generation missions such as PIPERnbsp;Dual Polarization Upgrade and PICO require an increase in sensor desnsity. As part of subtopic S1.04 (Sensor and Detector Technologies for Visible, IR, Far-IR, and Submillimeter), NASA has put out a call for kilo-pixel scale cryogenic, multiplexed readout capable of reading out two TES per 1 mm2nbsp;pixel. SeeQC (HYPRES) will design and simulate a SQUID based TDM circuit with low noise and crosstalk that meets the above area requirements. We will also fabricate and test a small version to validate our design and demonstrate feasibility of the full scale array.