Demonstration of a 1820 channel multiplexer for transition-edge sensor bolometers

J J. C. Groh (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) Z Z. Ahmed (Kavli Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology 3 , Menlo Park, California 94025,) J J. Austermann (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) J J. Beall (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) D D. Daniel S S. M. Duff (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) S S. W. Henderson (Kavli Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology 3 , Menlo Park, California 94025,) J J. Hubmayr (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) R R. Lew (Theiss Research 6 , La Jolla, California 92037,) M M. Link T T. J. Lucas (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) J J. A. B. Mates (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) M M. Silva-Feaver (Department of Physics, Yale University 7 , New Haven, Connecticut 06520,) R R. Singh J J. Ullom (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) L L. Vale (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) J J. Van Lanen (Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) M M. Vissers (National Institute of Standards and Technology 2 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,) C C. Yu

Abstract

The scalability of most transition-edge sensor arrays is limited by the multiplexing technology, which combines their signals over a reduced number of wires and amplifiers. In this Letter, we present and demonstrate a multiplexer design optimized for transition-edge sensor bolometers with 1820 sensors per readout unit, a factor of two more than the previous state-of-the-art. The design is optimized for cosmic microwave background imaging applications, and it builds on previous microwave superconducting quantum interference device multiplexers by doubling the available readout bandwidth to the full 4–8 GHz octave. Evaluating the key performance metrics of yield, sensitivity, and crosstalk through laboratory testing, we find an end-to-end operable detector yield of 78%, a typical nearest-neighbor crosstalk amplitude of ∼0.4%, and a median white noise level of 83 pA/Hz due to the multiplexer, corresponding to an estimated contribution of 4% to the total system noise for a ground-based cosmic microwave background telescope. Additionally, we identify a possible path toward reducing resonator loss for future designs with reduced noise. We expect these developments to alleviate the system complexity, cryogenic requirements, and cost of future large arrays of low temperature detectors.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 15
Published October 13, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (19)

J

J. C. Groh

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

Z

Z. Ahmed

Kavli Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology 3 , Menlo Park, California 94025,

J

J. Austermann

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

J

J. Beall

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

D

D. Daniel

S

S. M. Duff

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

S

S. W. Henderson

Kavli Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology 3 , Menlo Park, California 94025,

J

J. Hubmayr

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

R

R. Lew

Theiss Research 6 , La Jolla, California 92037,

M

M. Link

T

T. J. Lucas

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

J

J. A. B. Mates

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

M

M. Silva-Feaver

Department of Physics, Yale University 7 , New Haven, Connecticut 06520,

R

R. Singh

J

J. Ullom

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

L

L. Vale

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

J

J. Van Lanen

Quantum Sensors Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

M

M. Vissers

National Institute of Standards and Technology 2 , Boulder, Colorado 80305,

C

C. Yu