Development FD-SOI MOSFET amplifiers for integrated read-out circuit of superconducting-tunnel-junction single-photon-detectors

TL;DR

This paper presents a cryogenic read-out circuit for superconducting-tunnel-junction single-photon detectors using FD-SOI MOSFETs, achieving high resolution infrared photon detection with optimized amplification at 370 mK.

Contribution

It introduces a novel FD-SOI MOSFET based charge amplifier design suitable for cryogenic single-photon detection systems, demonstrating feasibility at 370 mK.

Findings

FD-SOI MOSFETs operate effectively at cryogenic temperatures.

The proposed amplifier design meets response and power requirements.

STJs achieve low leak current suitable for high-resolution photon detection.

Abstract

We proposed a new high resolution single photon infrared spectrometer for search for radiative decay of cosmic neutrino background(C$\nu$B). The superconducting-tunnel-junctions(STJs) are used as a single photoncounting device. Each STJ consists of Nb/Al/Al${}_{\mathrm{x}}$O${}_{\mathrm{y}}$/Al/Nb layers and their thicknesses are optimized for the operation temperature at 370 mK cooled by a ${}^{3}$He sorption refrigerator. Our STJs achieved the leak current 250 pA and the measured data implies that a smaller area STJ fulfills our requirement. FD-SOI MOSFETs are employed to amplify the STJ signal current in order to increase signal-to-noise ratio(S/N). FD-SOI MOSFETs can be operated at cryogenic temperature of 370 mK, which reduces the noise of the signal amplification system. FD-SOI MOSFET characteristics are measured at cryogenic temperature. The Id-Vgs curve shows a sharper turn on with a higher threshold voltage and the Id-Vds curve shows a non linear shape in linear region at cryogenic temperature. Taking into account these effects, FD-SOI MOSFETs are available for read-out circuit of STJ detectors. The bias voltage for STJ detectors are 0.4 mV and it must be well stabilized to deliver high performance. We proposed an FD-SOI MOSFET based charge integrated amplifier design as a read-out circuit of STJ detectors. The requirements for an operational amplifier used in the amplifier is estimated using SPICE simulation. The op-amp required to have a fast response(GBW$\geq$100 MHz) and it must have low power dissipation as compared to the cooling power of refrigerator.