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We have investigated the thermal transport of long, narrow beams of silicon nitride at cryogenic temperatures. Simultaneously employing a superconducting Transition Edge Sensor (TES) as both a heater and a sensor, we measured the thermal conductance of 1 μm thick silicon nitride beams of different lateral dimensions. Based upon these measurements, we calculate the thermal parameters of the beams. We utilize a boundary limited phonon scattering model and assume the phonon mean free path to be temperature independent in the calculation. In the temperature range from 300 mK to 530 mK, the following results are obtained for 20 (30) μm beams: the volume heat capacity is 0.083 T+0.509 T3 J/m3-K, the width dependent phonon mean free path is 9.60 (11.05) μm, and the width dependent thermal conductivity is 5.60×10-3 T+3.41×10-2 T3 (6.50×10-3 T+3.93×10-2 T3) W/m-K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design, microfabrication and assembly of dual-polarization absorber-coupled Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometer detectors for cosmic microwave background B-mode polarization studies. The device consists of two separate dies incorporating suspended silicon nitride membranes within silicon frames, carefully aligned perpendicularly and fixtured face-to-face. Polarization sensitivity around 95 GHz is provided by a single dipole-like absorber element; we briefly analyze this absorber-in-waveguide configuration in closed form using the EMF method. Proximity effect Mo/Au bilayers provide control of the TES critical temperature between 400 mK and 600 mK, with a normal resistance Rn∼1Ω. DC magnetron sputtering, wet etching, and liftoff were employed for TES fabrication. Optimization of the superconducting Mo thin film utilized independent RF bias applied to the substrate during deposition in a confocal geometry. This technique allows outstanding thin film uniformity and stress to be achieved simultaneously over a 4” wafer surface, leading to excellent superconducting properties. Device thermal conductance in the range from 25–250pW/K was achieved using suspended silicon nitride membranes 1 micron thick. The value of the thermal conductance depends very strongly upon the surface roughness, and therefore in turn upon the treatment of the silicon nitride material during fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present optical data on prototype polarization sensitive Argonne/KICP detectors fabricated at Argonne National Labs which are designed to be installed on the South Pole Telescope and used to measure the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. The detectors are Mo/Au transition edge sensors (TES) suspended on silicon nitride, with radiation coupled to the TES using a gold bar absorber. Two stacked detectors with bars in orthogonal directions will be used to measure both polarizations. We discuss measurements of the optical bandpass, time constants and cross-polarization of the detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using experimental thermal conductivity and volume heat capacity of narrow silicon nitride beams obtained from thermal test structures and a boundary limited phonon scattering model, as well as the heat conduction equation, we analyze the thermal performance of an absorber-coupled TES polarimeter with finite element method. The polarimeter’s temperature distribution, thermal power readout efficiency, and time constant are calculated. The thermal power readout efficiency of the polarimeter is up to 87% at a low signal modulation frequency, and has a 0.5 dB attenuation at 120 Hz. We also compare a preliminary optical testing result with theoretical expectation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SPTpol will consist of an 850 element polarization sensitive bolometric camera deployed to the South Pole Telescope in late 2011. This camera is optimized for measurement of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background with arcminute resolution. These measurements will be used to constrain neutrino masses and to constrain the amplitude of gravitational waves from inflation. The camera includes two detector architectures that observe in two different frequency bands. At 150 GHz, SPTpol will use 650 feedhorn-coupled TES polarimeters fabricated at NIST. At 90 GHz, it will use 200 absorber-coupled polarimeters developed at Argonne National Lab. The NIST pixels will be coupled to the telescope using a monolithic array of corrugated feeds and the Argonne devices will be coupled with individually machined contoured feeds. The entire focal plane will be readout using a digital frequency-domain multiplexer system. We provide an overview of the project, describe the detectors and discuss the design of this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present simulations and measurements of a new optical coupling scheme for bolometric detectors for cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization under development by Argonne National Labs and the University of Chicago. We show simulations of the performance and a tolerance analysis of this device along with measurements that validate its performance. Optical measurements of a prototype point to a 90% coupling efficiency with a cross-polarization below -20 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]