High performance microbolometers and microcalorimeters: from 300 K to 100 mK

Transition-edge microcalorimeters for X-ray space applications

Abstract In an European Space Agency funded research project, our goal is to develop microbolometer technology for X-ray and far-infrared detection for ESA's future scientific missions. We report results on the X-ray calorimeter, which is based on the superconducting transition of the Ti/Au thermometer strip at about 200 mK. Incident X-rays heat up a Bi absorber, deposited on top of the 400 μm ×400 μm thermometer. The temperature rise of the absorber is measured as a change of the thermometer current with a SQUID operating at 1 K.

Integrated SINIS refrigerators for efficient cooling of cryogenic detectors

In this paper we report recent results obtained with large area superconductor-insulator-normal metal-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction coolers. With the devices we have successfully demonstrated electronic cooling from 260 mK to 80 mK with a cooling power of 20 pW at 80 mK. At present, we are focusing on obtaining similar performance in cooling cryogenic detectors. Additionally, we present recent results of successful operation of a metalsemiconductor structure with a Schottky barrier acting as the tunnel barrier and the possibility to use this kind of structures for on-chip cooling.

Fluctuation-Limited Noise in a Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor

In order to investigate the origin of the until now unaccounted excess noise and to minimize the uncontrollable phenomena at the transition in x-ray microcalorimeters we have developed superconducting transition-edge sensors into an edgeless geometry, the so-called Corbino disk, with superconducting contacts in the center and at the outer perimeter. The measured rms current noise and its spectral density can be modeled as resistance noise resulting from fluctuations near the equilibrium superconductor-normal metal boundary. Peer reviewed

Sub-kelvin current amplifier using DC-SQUID

Abstract We have set up a system where a low-noise DC-SQUID is used as a current amplifier. The SQUID output is read using a wide band electronics unit based on the noise cancellation scheme. The SQUID has been installed in a compact Nanoway PDR50 dilution refrigerator, and superconducting transitions of Ti/Au thermometer strips for X-ray calorimeter applications have been measured. We can operate at 100 mK using a SQUID with Pd shunt resistors. Noise and bandwidth results of the setup are presented.