SBIR Phase I: High-Sensitive, Multiplexed, Digital Readout for Transition-Edge Sensor Arrays

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop a sensitive digital read-out system with on-focal-plane digitization, multiplexing and data transfer from large arrays of cryogenic transition-edge calorimeters to room-temperature electronics employing rapid single flux quantum digital technology. A set of over-sampling digitizers converts the output sensor signals to digital data that are processed by control units, which multiplex several digitized data streams into a single output line. Phase I will involve the design and simulation of system components and a complete single pixel readout circuit, and the lay out, fabrication and comparison of the experimental results of an integrated prototype to simulations. In Phase II, a complete digital readout system for 3232 transition-edge calorimeter arrays will be fabricated. Commercial applications include magnetic relaxation/remanence immunoassay systems for drug research or for read-out of multiple SQUID-based qubits in a quantum computing system. This readout architecture can be easily tailored to meet the application requirements for speed and sensitivity for scientific (astronomy) and industrial (semiconductor microanalysis) high- resolution x-ray spectrometry.