PROPOSAL NUMBER 99-1 15.01-6481 (Chron: 991489 )
PROJECT TITLE
Two-Stage SQUID Amplifiers for Cryogenic Detector Readouts
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)
This proposal describes an innovative two-stage SQUID-based amplifier and PC-based high-speed feedback electronics without flux modulation for low-impedance cryogenic detector readouts. The proposed amplifier consists of a sensitive input SQUID followed by a coherently modulated output SQUID array. The gain of the second stage is sufficient to allow the amplifier to be directly coupled to a room-temperature preamplifier, thereby eliminating the need for flux modulation and cooled impedance matching circuits and enabling wideband operation. The SQUIDs in the output array are damped to avoid resonances or distortions in the transfer characteristics, which improves the stability of the amplifier and simplifies operation, and enhances the large-signal bandwidth. All SQUID drive signals and loop parameters may be configured remotely via a Windows-based graphical user interface. Multi-channel configurations are supported. This effort directly benefits SEU programs and addresses specific needs for SQUID-based amplifiers for cryogenic detector readouts.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The two-stage SQUID amplifier and PC-based, high-speed feedback electronics will be attractive products for a variety of applications requiring improved sensitivity and wideband operation. Specifically, high-speed readouts are required for cryogenic detector applications using superconducting tunnel junction (STJ), transition edge (TE)
microcalorimeters and magnetic calorimeters. These products will be attractive as well for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectroscopy applications. These instrumentation needs represent a substantial market opportunity for the proposed SQUID-based amplifier and high-speed readout development.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (Name, Organization Name, Mail Address,
City/State/Zip)
Robin Cantor
STAR Cryoelectronics
862 Estates Dr.
Los Alamos , NM 87544 - 2781
NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)
STAR Cryoelectronics, LLC
862 Estates Dr.
Los Alamos , NM 87544 - 2781