Large bolometer arrays with superconducting NbSi sensors for future space experiments

F. Pajot (1) , Y. Atik (1) , C. Evesque (1) , S. Lefranc (1) , B. Leriche (1) , J.-P. Torre (1) , B. Belier (2) , N. Marsot (2) , L. Dumoulin (3) , L. Berge (3) , M. Piat (4) , E. Bréelle (5) , D. Prêle , Alain Benoit (6) , Christian Hoffmann (6) , Thomas Durand (6) , Philippe Camus (7) , D. Santos (8) , Yun Jin (9) , M. Giard (10)

1 IAS - Institut d'astrophysique spatiale
2 IEF - Institut d'électronique fondamentale
3 CSNSM - Centre de Spectrométrie Nucléaire et de Spectrométrie de Masse
4 APC - Cosmologie
5 APC (UMR_7164) - AstroParticule et Cosmologie
6 NEEL - HELFA - Hélium : du fondamental aux applications
7 NEEL - Cryo - Cryogénie
8 LPSC - Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie
9 LPN - Laboratoire de photonique et de nanostructures
10 CESR - Centre d'étude spatiale des rayonnements

New techniques in microelectronics allow to build large arrays of bolometers filling the focal plane of submillimeter and millimeter telescopes. The expected sensitivity increase is the key for the next generation of space experiments in this wavelength range. Superconducting bolometers offer currently the best prospects in terms of sensitivity and multiplexed readout. We present here the developments led in France based on NbSi alloy thermometers. The manufacturing process of a 23 pixel array and the test setup are described.

Domaines: Cosmologie et astrophysique extra-galactique [astro-ph.CO]; Cosmologie et astrophysique extra-galactique [astro-ph.CO]; Astrophysique [astro-ph]; Micro et nanotechnologies/Microélectronique

F. Pajot, Y. Atik, C. Evesque, S. Lefranc, B. Leriche, et al.. Large bolometer arrays with superconducting NbSi sensors for future space experiments. 12th International Workshop on Low Temperature Detectors - LTD-12, Jul 2007, Paris, France. Springer, 151, pp.513-517, 2008, ⟨10.1007/s10909-007-9680-7⟩. ⟨in2p3-00196874⟩