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5,120 Superconducting Bolometers for the PIPER Balloon-Borne CMB Polarization ExperimentWe are constructing the Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and search for the imprint of gravity waves produced during an inflationary epoch in the early universe. The signal is faint and lies behind confusing foregrounds, both astrophysical and cosmological, and so many detectors are required to complete the measurement in a limited time. We will use four of our matured 1,280 pixel, high-filling-factor backshort-under-grid bolometer arrays for efficient operation at the PIPER CMB wavelengths. All four arrays observe at a common wavelength set by passband filters in the optical path. PIPER will fly four times to observe at wavelengths of 1500, 1100, 850, and 500 microns in order to separate CMB from foreground emission. The arrays employ leg-isolated superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers operated at 145 mK; tuned resonant backshorts for efficient optical coupling; and a second-generation superconducting quantum interference device multiplexer readout. We describe the design, development, and performance of PIPER bolometer array technology to achieve background-limited sensitivity for a cryogenic balloon-borne telescope.
Document ID
20100019561
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Benford, Dominic J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chuss, David T. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hilton, Gene C. (National Inst. of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Irwin, Kent D. (National Inst. of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Jethava, Nikhil (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Jhabvala, Christine A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kogut, Alan J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Miller, Timothy M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Moseley, S. Harvey (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Rostem, Karwan (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Sharp, Elmer H. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Staguhn, Johannes G. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Voellmer, George M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Wollack, Edward J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2010
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation: Observational Frontiers of Astonomy for the New Decade
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 27, 2010
End Date: July 2, 2010
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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