Highly multiplexed superconducting detectors and readout electronics for balloon-borne and space-based Far-Infrared imaging and polarimetry.

We propose to develop large-format superconducting detector arrays and low power, highly multiplexed readout electronics for the next generation of balloon-borne and space-based sub-millimeter and far-infrared missions. We will demonstrate this technology on the upcoming NASA BLAST-TNG balloon-borne telescope to measure the polarized emission of galactic dust at wavelengths of 250, 350 and 500 microns. Analysis of the data from the BLAST-TNG flight will provide information about the configuration of the galactic magnetic fields over a wide range of spatial scales and help to clarify their role in star formation. More »