Demonstration of MHz frequency domain multiplexing readout of 37 transition edge sensors for high-resolution x-ray imaging spectrometers

We report on the development and demonstration of MHz frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) technology to readout arrays of cryogenic transition edge sensor (TES) x-ray microcalorimeters. In our FDM scheme, TESs are AC biased at different resonant frequencies in the low MHz range through an array of high-Q LC resonators. The current signals of all TESs are summed at superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). We have demonstrated multiplexing for a readout of 31 pixels using room temperature electronics, high-Q LC filters, and TES arrays developed at SRON, and SQUID arrays from VTT. We repeated this on a second setup with 37 pixels. The summed x-ray spectral resolutions @ 5.9 keV are ΔE31pix MUX=2.14 ± 0.03 eV and ΔE37pix MUX=2.23 ± 0.03 eV. The demonstrated results are comparable with other multiplexing approaches. There is potential to further improve the spectral resolution, to increase the number of multiplexed TESs, and to open up applications for TES x-ray microcalorimeters.