Background rates of x-ray transition-edge sensor micro-calorimeters under a frequency domain multiplexing readout for solar axion-like particles’ detection

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Abstract
We report on the x-ray background rate measured with transition-edge sensors (TES) micro-calorimeters under frequency-domain multiplexing (FDM) readout as a possible technology for future experiments aiming at a direct detection of axion-like particles. Future axion helioscopes will make use of large magnets to convert axions into photons in the keV range and x-ray detectors to observe them. To achieve this, a detector array with high spectral performance and extremely low background is necessary. TES are single-photon, non-dispersive, high-resolution micro-calorimeters and represent a possible candidate for this application. We have been developing x-ray TES micro-calorimeters and an FDM readout technology in the framework of the space-borne x-ray astronomical observatories. We show that the current generation of our detectors is already a promising technology for a possible axion search experiment, having measured an x-ray background rate of 2.2(2) × 10−4 cm−2 s−1 keV−1 with a cryogenic demonstrator not optimized for this specific application. We then make a prospect to further improve the background rate down to the required value (<10−7 cm−2 s−1 keV−1) for an axion-search experiment, identifying no fundamental limits to reach such a level.
Funding Information
  • NWO-I (184.034.002)
  • ESA/CTP (IIT AO/1-7947/14/NL/BW)

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