TES – Technology and Physics

SRON, Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584CA Utrecht, The Netherlands

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Abstract

This paper gives an overview of the potential of and developments on Transition Edge Sensors for astronomical research from Space. This type of sensor is under development for imaging X-ray spectrometers as well as for very sensitive InfraRed and sub-mm imaging detectors. This paper describes developments in Europe for the International X-ray Observatory IXO (ESA, JAXA, NASA) and for the SAFARI instrument on the Japanese IR-mission SPICA. 
The micro-calorimeter array for the IXO-mission will have an imaging array of at least 1024 pixels with high quantum efficiency in the 0.1–10 keV energy range and an energy resolution as small as 2 eV for each detected photon. The SAFARI instrument requires three imaging arrays with an optical Noise Equivalent Power (NEP) as low as ≤ 5 × 10^-19 W/√Hz with a total amount of 5940 pixels to read a Fourier Transform Spectrometer. The paper is written to be read together with the presentation given at the Astrophysics Detector Workshop 2008, Nice 17–20 November 2008, France.