A Double Flux Locked Loop Scheme For SQUID Readout Of TES Detector Arrays Using The FDM Technique

SQUIDs readout electronics for TES microcalorimeters are generally based on the standard Flux Locked Loop scheme in which the SQUID is inserted in a feedback circuit in order to increase its Dynamic Range. For those applications in which a high loop gain at high frequency is needed, such as FDM multiplexing of a large number of pixels, the distance between the SQUID and room temperature electronics limits the performances due to the finite propagation time of the signal. Here we present a solution in which the feedback electronics is located in the cryogenic environment as close as possible to the SQUID. In particular we adopt a scheme in which the feedback loop is split in two paths: a high frequency FLL loop in cryogenic environment and a low frequency loop which is closed at room temperature. With this approach it is not necessary to have a precision DC amplifier working at cryogenic temperatures, resulting in a substantial simplification of the cryogenic components of the electronics. This paper describes the theory behind and the experimental work which is currently carried out to prove this concept.