Adaptation of low power multiplexed readout electronics for large bolometer array space missions

宇宙微波背景极化的精确测量可能会让宇宙学家探测到膨胀重力波的特征，提供宇宙年龄不到一秒的一小部分时的图像。正在开发新一代仪器、探测器和电子读出系统来进行这些测量。虽然地面仪器目前正在投入使用，但最终的测量很可能是在空间平台仪器上进行的。用于读出由千像素低温测辐射热传感器阵列组成的焦平面的电子设备一直是这类仪器的关键技术挑战。加拿大人已经在这项技术发展中发挥了国际领导作用。这项提议的PI多布斯与伯克利的合作者共同开发了一项技术，该技术使用超导量子干涉设备进行第一级放大，并在频域中对探测器信号进行多路复用。麦吉尔大学的多布斯的团队最近开发了一个低功率数字版本的室温后端电子设备的原型，用于名为EBEX的毫米波长偏振敏感望远镜，NASA将乘坐高空气球平台飞往大气层顶部。该系统被设计成在一组导线上读出许多低温探测器。这大大降低了低温阶段的热负荷、系统的复杂性和总体成本。该提案寻求资金，以进一步开发用于卫星平台的系统，同时在学术界(麦吉尔大学)、工业界(COM DEV)和加拿大航天局之间建立伙伴关系。这项技术的目标应用是毫米波长宇宙学观测的空间平台仪器。它还与几个应用直接相关，包括磁性医学成像、核取证、X射线微热量测量和从太空观察地球。

Precision measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background polarization may allow cosmologists to detect the signature of inflationary gravity waves, providing an image of the universe when it was a tiny fraction of a second old. A new generation of instruments, detectors, and electronic readout systems are being developed to perform these measurements. Though ground based instruments are being commissioned now, the definitive measurements will likely take place from space platform instruments.The electronics for reading out focal planes consisting of kilo-pixel arrays of cryogenic bolometric sensors has been a key technological challenge for this type of instrument. Canadians have demonstrated an international leadership role in this technology development. Dobbs, the PI of this proposal, has co-developed a technique with collaborators at Berkeley that uses Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices for first stage amplification and multiplexing the detector signals in the frequency domain. Dobbs' group at McGill University recently developed a prototype low power digital version of the room temperature backend electronics for use on a mm-wavelength polarization sensitive telescope, called EBEX, that NASA will fly to the top of the atmosphere aboard a high altitude balloon platform. This system is designed to read out many cryogenic detectors on a single set of wires. This greatly reduces the heat load on cryogenic stage, complexity of the system, and overall cost.This proposal seeks funding to further develop the system for satellite platforms while creating a partnership between academia (McGill University), industry (COM DEV), and the Canadian Space Agency. The target application for this technology is space platform instruments for mm-wavelength cosmology observations. It is also directly relevant for several applications including magnetic medical imaging, nuclear forensics, x-ray micro-calorimetry, and earth observation from space.