Optical performance of prototype horn-coupled TES bolometer arrays for SAFARI

TL;DR

This paper describes the development and testing of a specialized optical testbed for evaluating the performance of prototype horn-coupled TES bolometer arrays intended for the SAFARI spectrometer on the SPICA satellite, focusing on optical characterization.

Contribution

It introduces an advanced optical test facility with reimaging optics for precise measurement of prototype detector arrays for space-based spectroscopy.

Findings

Successful optical testing of prototype arrays

Enhanced measurement capabilities with reimaging optics

Performance data relevant for space instrument design

Abstract

The SAFARI Detector Test Facility is an ultra-low background optical testbed for characterizing ultra-sensitive prototype horn-coupled TES bolmeters for SAFARI, the grating spectrometer on board the proposed SPICA satellite. The testbed contains internal cold and hot black-body illuminators and a light-pipe for illumination with an external source. We have added reimaging optics to facilitate array optical measurements. The system is now being used for optical testing of prototype detector arrays read out with frequency-domain multiplexing. We present our latest optical measurements of prototype arrays and discuss these in terms of the instrument performance.