Audley, Michael D. and de Lange, G. and Ranjan, M. and Gao, J.R. and Khosropanah, P. and Ridder, Marcel and Mauskopf, P.D. and Morozov, Dmitry and Doherty, Stephen and Trappe, Neil and Withington, S. (2014) Measurements of the Optical Performance of Prototype TES Bolometers for SAFARI. Journal of Low Temperature Physics, 5 (6). pp. 755-760. ISSN 0022-2291

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Abstract

We have measured the optical response of prototype detectors for SAFARI, the far-infrared imaging spectrometer for the SPICA satellite. SAFARI’s three bolometer arrays, coupled with a Fourier transform spectrometer, will provide images of a 2′×2′ field of view with spectral information over the wavelength range 34–210 μm. Each horn-coupled bolometer consists of a transition edge sensor (TES), with a transition temperature close to 100 mK, and a thin-film Ta absorber on a thermally-isolated silicon nitride membrane. SAFARI requires extremely sensitive detectors (NEP∼2×10−19 W/Hz−−−√), with correspondingly low saturation powers (∼5 fW), to take advantage of SPICA’s cooled optics. To meet the challenge of testing such sensitive detectors we have constructed an ultra-low background test facility based on a cryogen-free high-capacity dilution refrigerator, paying careful attention to stray-light exclusion, shielding, and vibration isolation. For optical measurements the system contains internal cold (3–30 K) and hot (∼300 K) black-body calibration sources, as well as a light pipe for external illumination. We discuss our measurements of high optical efficiency in prototype SAFARI detectors and describe recent improvements to the test facility that will enable us to test the full SAFARI focal-plane arrays.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite this article as: Audley, M.D., de Lange, G., Ranjan, M. et al. J Low Temp Phys (2014) 176: 755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-013-0984-5
Keywords:	Low-temperature detectors; Infra-red bolometers; Transition edge sensors; Optical testing;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics
Item ID:	9830
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-013-0984-5
Depositing User:	Dr. Neil Trappe
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2018 15:57
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	https://link.springer.com
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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