Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Functional Description of Read-out Electronics for Time-Domain Multiplexed Bolometers for Millimeter and Sub-millimeter Astronomy

  • Published:
Journal of Low Temperature Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have developed multi-channel electronics (MCE) which work in concert with time-domain multiplexors developed at NIST, to control and read signals from large format bolometer arrays of superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs). These electronics were developed as part of the Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array-2 (SCUBA2 ) camera, but are now used in several other instruments. The main advantages of these electronics compared to earlier versions is that they are multi-channel, fully programmable, suited for remote operations and provide a clean geometry, with no electrical cabling outside of the Faraday cage formed by the cryostat and the electronics chassis.

The MCE is used to determine the optimal operating points for the TES and the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) amplifiers autonomously. During observation, the MCE execute a running PID-servo and apply to each first stage SQUID a feedback signal necessary to keep the system in a linear regime at optimal gain. The feedback and error signals from a ∼1000-pixel array can be written to hard drive at up to 2 kHz.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H.P. Gush et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 63, 90 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. P.A. de Korte et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74(8), 3807–3815 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. C.D. Reintsema et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74(10), 4500 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. W.S. Holland et al., Proc. SPIE 6275, 62751E (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Fowler et al., Appl. Opt. 45, 3746 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. M.D. Audley et al., Proc. SPIE 6275, 627524 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. T.E. Montroy et al., Proc. SPIE 6267, 62670R (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Kovac et al., Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 38, 913 (2006)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z1, Canada

    E. S. Battistelli, M. Amiri, B. Burger, M. Halpern & S. Knotek

  2. UK Astronomy Technology Centre, ROE, Edinburgh, Scotland

    M. Ellis, X. Gao, D. Kelly & M. MacIntosh

  3. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO, USA

    K. Irwin & C. Reintsema

Authors
  1. E. S. Battistelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Amiri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Burger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Halpern
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Knotek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Ellis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. X. Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. D. Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. M. MacIntosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. K. Irwin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. C. Reintsema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. S. Battistelli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Battistelli, E.S., Amiri, M., Burger, B. et al. Functional Description of Read-out Electronics for Time-Domain Multiplexed Bolometers for Millimeter and Sub-millimeter Astronomy. J Low Temp Phys 151, 908–914 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-008-9772-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-008-9772-z

Keywords

PACS

Search

Navigation