The SPICA-SAFARI Detector System: TES Detector Arrays With Frequency-Division Multiplexed SQUID Readout

Abstract

The SAFARI instrument is a far-infrared imaging Fourier transform spectrometer for JAXA's SPICA mission. Taking advantage of the low emission of SPICA's 5 K telescope, SAFARI will provide sky background-limited, Nyquist-sampled spectroscopic imaging of a 2 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">'</sup> × 2 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">'</sup> field-of-view over 34-210 μm, creating significant new possibilities for far-infrared astronomy. SAFARI's aggressive science goals drive the development of a unique detector system combining large-format Transition Edge Sensor arrays and frequency division multiplexed SQUID readout with a high 160x multiplexing factor. The detectors and their cold readout electronics are packaged into 3 focal plane arrays that will be integrated into SAFARI's focal plane unit. Here we present the preliminary system design and current development status of the SAFARI detector system.