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Title: Antenna-coupled TES bolometers used in BICEP2, Keck Array, and SPIDER

Journal Article · · The Astrophysical Journal (Online)

We have developed antenna-coupled transition-edge sensor bolometers for a wide range of cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimetry experiments, including Bicep2, Keck Array, and the balloon borne Spider. These detectors have reached maturity and this paper reports on their design principles, overall performance, and key challenges associated with design and production. Our detector arrays repeatedly produce spectral bands with 20%–30% bandwidth at 95, 150, or 230 GHz. The integrated antenna arrays synthesize symmetric co-aligned beams with controlled side-lobe levels. Cross-polarized response on boresight is typically $$\sim 0.5\%$$, consistent with cross-talk in our multiplexed readout system. End-to-end optical efficiencies in our cameras are routinely 35% or higher, with per detector sensitivities of NET ~ 300 $$\mu {{\rm{K}}}_{\mathrm{CMB}}\sqrt{{\rm{s}}}$$. Thanks to the scalability of this design, we have deployed 2560 detectors as 1280 matched pairs in Keck Array with a combined instantaneous sensitivity of $$\sim 9\;\mu {{\rm{K}}}_{\mathrm{CMB}}\sqrt{{\rm{s}}}$$, as measured directly from CMB maps in the 2013 season. Furthermore, similar arrays have recently flown in the Spider instrument, and development of this technology is ongoing.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Contributing Organization:
Bicep2, Keck Array, and Spider Collaborations
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1263390
Report Number(s):
SLAC-PUB-16648; arXiv:1502.00619
Journal Information:
The Astrophysical Journal (Online), Vol. 812, Issue 2; ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 54 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (14)

The short wavelength instrument for the polarization explorer balloon-borne experiment: Polarization modulation issues journal January 2019
Thermal Kinetic Inductance Detectors for Ground-Based Millimeter-Wave Cosmology journal July 2018
SPIDER: CMB Polarimetry from the Edge of Space journal October 2018
On-Sky Performance of the SPT-3G Frequency-Domain Multiplexed Readout journal December 2019
Development of Flat Silicon-Based Mesh Lens Arrays for Millimeter and Sub-millimeter Wave Astronomy journal January 2020
SWIPE Multi-mode Pixel Assembly Design and Beam Pattern Measurements at Cryogenic Temperature journal February 2020
A clamp and release system for superconducting magnetic bearings journal December 2018
Bicep2. III. INSTRUMENTAL SYSTEMATICS journal November 2015
Recent discoveries from the cosmic microwave background: a review of recent progress journal February 2018
BICEP Array: a multi-frequency degree-scale CMB polarimeter
  • Hui, Howard; Ade, P. A. R.; Ahmed, Zeeshan
  • Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2311725
conference July 2018
SPIDER: CMB polarimetry from the edge of space text January 2017
Thermal kinetic inductance detectors for ground-based millimeter-wave cosmology text January 2018
The short wavelength instrument for the polarization explorer balloon-borne experiment: Polarization modulation issues text January 2019
On-sky performance of the SPT-3G frequency-domain multiplexed readout text January 2019