First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket

Joseph S. Adams; Robert Baker; Simon R. Bandler; Noëmie Bastidon; Meredith E. Danowski; William B. Doriese; Megan E. Eckart; Enectalí Figueroa-Feliciano; Joshua Fuhrman; David C. Goldfinger; Sarah N.T. Heine; Gene C. Hilton; Antonia J.F. Hubbard; Daniel Jardin; Richard L. Kelley; Caroline A. Kilbourne; Renée E. Manzagol-Harwood; Dan McCammon; Takashi Okajima; Frederick S. Porter; Carl D. Reintsema; Peter Serlemitsos; Stephen J. Smith; Patrick Wikus

doi:10.1117/12.2562645

First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket

Joseph S. Adams, Robert Baker, Simon R. Bandler, Noëmie Bastidon, Meredith E. Danowski, William B. Doriese, Megan E. Eckart, Enectalí Figueroa-Feliciano, Joshua Fuhrman, David C. Goldfinger, Sarah N.T. Heine, Gene C. Hilton, Antonia J.F. Hubbard^*, Daniel Jardin, Richard L. Kelley, Caroline A. Kilbourne, Renée E. Manzagol-Harwood, Dan McCammon, Takashi Okajima, Frederick S. PorterCarl D. Reintsema, Peter Serlemitsos, Stephen J. Smith, Patrick Wikus

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

With its first flight in 2018, Micro-X became the first program to fly Transition-Edge Sensors and their SQUID readouts in space. The science goal was a high-resolution, spatially resolved X-ray spectrum of the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant. While a rocket pointing error led to no time on target, the data was used to demonstrate the flight performance of the instrument. The detectors observed X-rays from the on-board calibration source, but a susceptibility to external magnetic fields limited their livetime. Accounting for this, no change was observed in detector response between ground operation and flight operation. This paper provides an overview of the first flight performance and focuses on the upgrades made in preparation for reflight. The largest changes have been upgrading the SQUIDs to mitigate magnetic susceptibility, synchronizing the clocks on the digital electronics to minimize beat frequencies, and replacing the mounts between the cryostat and the rocket skin to improve mechanical integrity. As the first flight performance was consistent with performance on the ground, reaching the instrument goals in the laboratory is considered a strong predictor of future flight performance.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX
Editors	Andrew D. Holland, James Beletic
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510636958
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562645
State	Published - 2020
Event	X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX 2020 - Virtual, Online, United States Duration: Dec 14 2020 → Dec 22 2020

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	11454
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX 2020
Country/Territory	United States
City	Virtual, Online
Period	12/14/20 → 12/22/20

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge the technical support of Ernie Buchanan, John Bussan, Travis Coffroad, Sam Gabelt, Rob Hamersma, Kurt Jaehnig, Frank Lantz, Ken Simms, Tomomi Watanabe, George Winkert, and the WFF team. Micro-X operates under NASA Grant 80NSSC18K1445. Part of this work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Keywords

Microcalorimeter
Sounding rocket
Transition-edge sensor
X-ray spectroscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2562645

Cite this

Adams, J. S., Baker, R., Bandler, S. R., Bastidon, N., Danowski, M. E., Doriese, W. B., Eckart, M. E., Figueroa-Feliciano, E., Fuhrman, J., Goldfinger, D. C., Heine, S. N. T., Hilton, G. C., Hubbard, A. J. F., Jardin, D., Kelley, R. L., Kilbourne, C. A., Manzagol-Harwood, R. E., McCammon, D., Okajima, T., ... Wikus, P. (2020). First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket. In A. D. Holland, & J. Beletic (Eds.), X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX Article 1145414 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 11454). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562645

@inproceedings{9690cf802a57412c9f19bf854de29c36,

title = "First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket",

abstract = "With its first flight in 2018, Micro-X became the first program to fly Transition-Edge Sensors and their SQUID readouts in space. The science goal was a high-resolution, spatially resolved X-ray spectrum of the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant. While a rocket pointing error led to no time on target, the data was used to demonstrate the flight performance of the instrument. The detectors observed X-rays from the on-board calibration source, but a susceptibility to external magnetic fields limited their livetime. Accounting for this, no change was observed in detector response between ground operation and flight operation. This paper provides an overview of the first flight performance and focuses on the upgrades made in preparation for reflight. The largest changes have been upgrading the SQUIDs to mitigate magnetic susceptibility, synchronizing the clocks on the digital electronics to minimize beat frequencies, and replacing the mounts between the cryostat and the rocket skin to improve mechanical integrity. As the first flight performance was consistent with performance on the ground, reaching the instrument goals in the laboratory is considered a strong predictor of future flight performance.",

keywords = "Microcalorimeter, Sounding rocket, Transition-edge sensor, X-ray spectroscopy",

author = "Adams, {Joseph S.} and Robert Baker and Bandler, {Simon R.} and No{\"e}mie Bastidon and Danowski, {Meredith E.} and Doriese, {William B.} and Eckart, {Megan E.} and Enectal{\'i} Figueroa-Feliciano and Joshua Fuhrman and Goldfinger, {David C.} and Heine, {Sarah N.T.} and Hilton, {Gene C.} and Hubbard, {Antonia J.F.} and Daniel Jardin and Kelley, {Richard L.} and Kilbourne, {Caroline A.} and Manzagol-Harwood, {Ren{\'e}e E.} and Dan McCammon and Takashi Okajima and Porter, {Frederick S.} and Reintsema, {Carl D.} and Peter Serlemitsos and Smith, {Stephen J.} and Patrick Wikus",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.; X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX 2020 ; Conference date: 14-12-2020 Through 22-12-2020",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.1117/12.2562645",

language = "English (US)",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Holland, {Andrew D.} and James Beletic",

booktitle = "X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX",

}

Adams, JS, Baker, R, Bandler, SR, Bastidon, N, Danowski, ME, Doriese, WB, Eckart, ME, Figueroa-Feliciano, E, Fuhrman, J, Goldfinger, DC, Heine, SNT, Hilton, GC, Hubbard, AJF, Jardin, D, Kelley, RL, Kilbourne, CA, Manzagol-Harwood, RE, McCammon, D, Okajima, T, Porter, FS, Reintsema, CD, Serlemitsos, P, Smith, SJ & Wikus, P 2020, First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket. in AD Holland & J Beletic (eds), X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX., 1145414, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 11454, SPIE, X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX 2020, Virtual, Online, United States, 12/14/20. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562645

First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket. / Adams, Joseph S.; Baker, Robert; Bandler, Simon R. et al.
X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX. ed. / Andrew D. Holland; James Beletic. SPIE, 2020. 1145414 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 11454).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket

AU - Adams, Joseph S.

AU - Baker, Robert

AU - Bandler, Simon R.

AU - Bastidon, Noëmie

AU - Danowski, Meredith E.

AU - Doriese, William B.

AU - Eckart, Megan E.

AU - Figueroa-Feliciano, Enectalí

AU - Fuhrman, Joshua

AU - Goldfinger, David C.

AU - Heine, Sarah N.T.

AU - Hilton, Gene C.

AU - Hubbard, Antonia J.F.

AU - Jardin, Daniel

AU - Kelley, Richard L.

AU - Kilbourne, Caroline A.

AU - Manzagol-Harwood, Renée E.

AU - McCammon, Dan

AU - Okajima, Takashi

AU - Porter, Frederick S.

AU - Reintsema, Carl D.

AU - Serlemitsos, Peter

AU - Smith, Stephen J.

AU - Wikus, Patrick

PY - 2020

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N2 - With its first flight in 2018, Micro-X became the first program to fly Transition-Edge Sensors and their SQUID readouts in space. The science goal was a high-resolution, spatially resolved X-ray spectrum of the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant. While a rocket pointing error led to no time on target, the data was used to demonstrate the flight performance of the instrument. The detectors observed X-rays from the on-board calibration source, but a susceptibility to external magnetic fields limited their livetime. Accounting for this, no change was observed in detector response between ground operation and flight operation. This paper provides an overview of the first flight performance and focuses on the upgrades made in preparation for reflight. The largest changes have been upgrading the SQUIDs to mitigate magnetic susceptibility, synchronizing the clocks on the digital electronics to minimize beat frequencies, and replacing the mounts between the cryostat and the rocket skin to improve mechanical integrity. As the first flight performance was consistent with performance on the ground, reaching the instrument goals in the laboratory is considered a strong predictor of future flight performance.

AB - With its first flight in 2018, Micro-X became the first program to fly Transition-Edge Sensors and their SQUID readouts in space. The science goal was a high-resolution, spatially resolved X-ray spectrum of the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant. While a rocket pointing error led to no time on target, the data was used to demonstrate the flight performance of the instrument. The detectors observed X-rays from the on-board calibration source, but a susceptibility to external magnetic fields limited their livetime. Accounting for this, no change was observed in detector response between ground operation and flight operation. This paper provides an overview of the first flight performance and focuses on the upgrades made in preparation for reflight. The largest changes have been upgrading the SQUIDs to mitigate magnetic susceptibility, synchronizing the clocks on the digital electronics to minimize beat frequencies, and replacing the mounts between the cryostat and the rocket skin to improve mechanical integrity. As the first flight performance was consistent with performance on the ground, reaching the instrument goals in the laboratory is considered a strong predictor of future flight performance.

KW - Microcalorimeter

KW - Sounding rocket

KW - Transition-edge sensor

KW - X-ray spectroscopy

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M3 - Conference contribution

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T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX

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ER -

Adams JS, Baker R, Bandler SR, Bastidon N, Danowski ME, Doriese WB et al. First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket. In Holland AD, Beletic J, editors, X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IX. SPIE. 2020. 1145414. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2562645

First operation of transition-edge sensors in space with the Micro-X sounding rocket

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