Superconducting multiplexer for arrays of transition edge sensors

We report the design and testing of an analog superconducting time-division multiplexer to instrument large format arrays of low-temperature bolometer s and microcalorimeters. The circuit is designed to multiplex an array of s uperconducting quantum interference devices, thereby simplifying wiring and room temperature electronics. We have fabricated a prototype 8x1 multiplex er chip and show a switching rate of 1 MHz. We calculate that a 32x32 array or larger is feasible. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951 (99)00826-8].