EURECA: a European-Japanese microcalorimeter array

Abstract

The EURECA (EURopean-JapanEse Calorimeter Array) project aims to demonstrate the science performance and technological readiness of an imaging X-ray spectrometer based on a micro-calorimeter array for application in future X-ray astronomy missions, like Constellation-X and XEUS. The prototype instrument consists of a 5 x 5 pixel array of TES-based micro-calorimeters read out by by two SQUID-amplifier channels using frequency-domain-multiplexing (FDM). The SQUID-amplifiers are linearized by digital base-band feedback. The detector array is cooled in a cryogenfree cryostat consisting of a pulse tube cooler and a two stage ADR. A European-Japanese consortium designs, fabricates, and tests this prototype instrument. This paper describes the instrument concept, and shows the design and status of the various sub-units, like the TES detector array, LC-filters, SQUID-amplifiers, AC-bias sources, digital electronics, etc.Initial tests of the system at the PTB beam line of the BESSY synchrotron showed stable performance and an X-ray energy resolution of 1.58 eV at 250 eV and 2.5 eV @ 5.9 keV for the read-out of one TES-pixel only. Next step is deployment of FDM to read-out the full array. Full performance demonstration is expected mid 2009.

Mo-Based Proximity Bilayers for TES: Microstructure and Properties

“…T RANSITION edge sensors (TES), based on superconductors, can constitute microcalorimeters with excellent performances as photon detectors with spectroscopic capabilities. Among other applications, they are considered at present as the most promising option for X-ray imaging spectrometers in the next generation of X-ray astronomical missions [1], [2].…”

Two-stage locally linearized SQUID readout for frequency domain multiplexed calorimeter arrays

“…This is a continuation of our earlier work [9]. The choice of design parameters has been motivated by the transition edge sensor (TES) based x-ray calorimeters intended for the XEUS/IXO mission [10].…”

SQUID multiplexing using baseband feedback for space application of transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters

“…To overcome the limitation of bandwidth due to unavoidable phase shift above 1 MHz, we are proposing a new FDM scheme called baseband feedback [8][9][10]. In baseband feedback, we demodulate the SQUID signal once at room temperature.…”