The Performance of DR-TES (Dilution Refrigerator Transition Edge Sensor) Mission

Presentation #105.32 in the session Missions and Instruments - Poster Session.

by Kun Hu, Md. Arman Hossen, Ephraim Gau, Matthew Fritts, Dan Becker, Dan Schmidt, Daniel Swetz, Douglas Bennett, Dana Braun, Fabian Kislat, John Mates, Joel Weber, Mehrnoosh Mojaver, Nicole Rodriguez Cavero, Sohee Chun, Lindsey Lisalda, Richard Bose, Garry Simburger, Ryan Snodgrass, Joel Ullom, Johanna Nagy, and Henric Krawczynski

Published onMay 03, 2024

DR-TES (Dilution Refrigerator Transition Edge Sensor) is a balloon-borne mission that is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2024. It aims to observe X-rays or gamma-rays with unprecedented energy resolutions utilizing a low-temperature TES (Transition Edge Sensor) detector array and a mini-DR (miniature Dilution Refrigerator). Pre-cooled by a liquid helium bath, the mini-DR will cool the TES sensors to ~ 70 mK. At this temperature, the detector array can achieve an energy resolution of ~ 55 eV FWHM at 97 keV. The TES sensors are coupled to Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs), and can be read out by a single input/output microwave line using the multiplexing technique. We report on the setup, performance, and pre-flight tests of the detector array and the cryogenic system of DR-TES. We also discuss the scientific potential of combining micro-calorimeter detector array and miniature dilution refrigerator in a space environment.