A superconducting focal plane array for ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared astrophysics

Mazin, Benjamin A.; Bumble, B.; Meeker, Seth R.; O’Brien, Kieran; McHugh, S.; Langman, Eric

doi:10.1364/oe.20.001503

Cited by 140 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The MKIDs in ARCONS have little information in their amplitude response, (I 2 + Q 2 ) 1/2 , so it is ignored. 1 Given I and Q, the phase φ = tan −1 (Q/I) is calculated efficiently on the FPGA using a CORDIC algorithm. The phase time series is then filtered with a programmable FIR with 26 taps, which gives access to 26 μs of data for the filter and allows for pulse arrival time determination to 1 μs.…”

Section: Phase Conversion and Matched Filteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ARCONS is based on a 32 × 32 array of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs), which are photoncounting detectors that have an intrinsic energy resolution R∼20-150, enabling them to perform low-resolution spectroimaging without filters or dispersive optics. 1 ARCONS was designed to be sensitive in the 0.4-1.1 μm wavelength range and can time-tag photons to 1 μs without read noise or dark current. ARCONS is the first astronomical instrument based on optical/near-IR MKIDs, and is the largest non-dispersive optical/near-IR spectrophotometer fielded by a factor of 10.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A readout for large arrays of microwave kinetic inductance detectors

McHugh

Mazin²,

Serfass³

et al. 2012

Review of Scientific Instruments

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128

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Design and analysis of multi-color confocal microscopy with a wavelength scanning detector Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 053704 (2012) Short wavelength thermography: Theoretical and experimental estimation of the optimal working wavelength J. Appl. Phys. 111, 084903 (2012) Hole shape effect induced optical response to permittivity change in palladium sub-wavelength hole arrays upon hydrogen exposure J. Appl. Phys. 111, 084502 (2012) Few-photon-level two-dimensional infrared imaging by coincidence frequency upconversion Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 151102 (2012) Channelling optics for high quality imaging of sensory hair Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 045001 (2012) Additional information on Rev. Sci. Instrum. Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) are superconducting detectors capable of counting single photons and measuring their energy in the UV, optical, and near-IR. MKIDs feature intrinsic frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) at microwave frequencies, allowing the construction and readout of large arrays. Due to the microwave FDM, MKIDs do not require the complex cryogenic multiplexing electronics used for similar detectors, such as transition edge sensors, but instead transfer this complexity to room temperature electronics where they present a formidable signal processing challenge. In this paper, we describe the first successful effort to build a readout for a photon counting optical/near-IR astronomical instrument, the ARray Camera for Optical to Nearinfrared Spectrophotometry. This readout is based on open source hardware developed by the Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research. Designed principally for radio telescope backends, it is flexible enough to be used for a variety of signal processing applications.

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Section: Phase Conversion and Matched Filteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A readout for large arrays of microwave kinetic inductance detectors

McHugh

Mazin²,

Serfass³

et al. 2012

Review of Scientific Instruments

Self Cite

128

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“…Given the high quality NbTiN resonators pioneered by Barends et al [7,8], titanium nitride (TiN) has been proposed, because it has the previously mentioned properties in addition to a tuneable critical temperature, which facilitates a relatively long quasiparticle lifetime [9]. Currently, several groups are studying the implementation of TiN KID devices and instruments [10][11][12][13][14]. However, a material like TiN has also drawn the attention of the condensed matter physics community, interested in the disorder-induced superconductorto-insulator transition [15].…”

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confidence: 99%

Anomalous response of superconducting titanium nitride resonators to terahertz radiation

Bueno

Coumou

Zheng

et al. 2014

Applied Physics Letters

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We present an experimental study of KIDs fabricated of atomic layer deposited TiN films, and characterized at radiation frequencies of 350 GHz. The responsivity to radiation is measured and found to increase with increasing radiation powers, opposite to what is expected from theory and observed for hybrid niobium titanium nitride / aluminium (NbTiN/Al) and all-aluminium (allAl) KIDs. The noise is found to be independent of the level of the radiation power. The noise equivalent power (NEP) improves with higher radiation powers, also opposite to what is observed and well understood for hybrid NbTiN/Al and all-Al KIDs. We suggest that an inhomogeneous state of these disordered superconductors should be used to explain these observations. Superconducting resonators have been proposed as kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) for sensitive multipixel radiation detection [1]. Antenna-coupled hybrid niobium titanium nitride / aluminium (NbTiN/Al) KIDs [2,3] and all-aluminium (all-Al) [4] have shown generationrecombination noise and photon noise limited performance. KIDs can also be constructed as lumped element kinetic inductance detectors (LEKIDs) [5] in which the KID is arranged as a photon absorbing area matched to free space. Aluminium LEKIDs have also shown generation-recombination and photon noise limited performance [6]. However, the low normal-state resistivity of Al makes the design of the absorber for very high frequency radiation complex. Therefore, superconductors with a high normal state resistivity have recently become of particular interest [9].A figure of merit F to optimize the responsivity of KIDs is defined as, with α sc the kinetic inductance fraction, τ the quasiparticle recombination time, Q i the internal quality factor, F res the resonance frequency, N (0) is the single spin electron density of states at the Fermi level, and V the volume of the KID. For example, Al KIDs have a long quasiparticle recombination time (a few milliseconds) and high internal quality factors (above one million), but their kinetic inductance fraction is low and their volume large.Superconducting materials with a high resistivity in the normal-state are promising because of their high quality factor and a long enough relaxation time. The high normal resistance implies a large sheet inductance, resulting in a large kinetic inductance fraction, which lowers the KID volume. The high surface impedance also eases matching to free space and optimises the photon absorption. Given the high quality NbTiN resonators pioneered by Barends et al. [7,8], titanium nitride (TiN) has been proposed, because it has the previously mentioned properties in addition to a tuneable critical temperature, which facilitates a relatively long quasiparticle lifetime [9]. Currently, several groups are studying the implementation of TiN KID devices and instruments [10][11][12][13][14]. However, a material like TiN has also drawn the attention of the condensed matter physics community, interested in the disorder-induced superconductorto-insulator transitio...

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“…New detector technologies that allow for the measurement of the position and energy of a photon could potentially yield low-resolution spectroscopic images, and the resulting data cube could be binned in wavelength channels to optimize the detection of a moon, and later to optimize the characterization of the spectra as a function of wavelength. Specifically, Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, or MKIDs, and Superconducting Tunnelling Junctions, STJs, have high quantum efficiency and are being multiplexed into larger arrays (Peacock et al 1996;Day et al 2003;Mazin et al 2012). Another possible approach would be to use an integral field unit spectrograph, such as that used on the Gemini Planet Imager (Macintosh et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Center of Light: Spectroastrometric Detection of Exomoons

Agol

Jansen

Lacy

et al. 2015

ApJ

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Direct imaging of extrasolar planets with future space-based coronagraphic telescopes may provide a means of detecting companion moons at wavelengths where the moon outshines the planet. We propose a detection strategy based on the positional variation of the center of light with wavelength, "spectroastrometry." This new application of this technique could be used to detect an exomoon, to determine the exomoon's orbit and the mass of the host exoplanet, and to disentangle the spectra of the planet and moon. We consider two model systems, for which we discuss the requirements for detection of exomoons around nearby stars. We simulate the characterization of an Earth-Moon analog system with spectroastrometry, showing that the orbit, the planet mass, and the spectra of both bodies can be recovered. To enable the detection and characterization of exomoons we recommend that coronagraphic telescopes should extend in wavelength coverage to 3 μm, and should be designed with spectroastrometric requirements in mind.

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A superconducting focal plane array for ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared astrophysics

Cited by 140 publications

References 29 publications

A readout for large arrays of microwave kinetic inductance detectors

A readout for large arrays of microwave kinetic inductance detectors

Anomalous response of superconducting titanium nitride resonators to terahertz radiation

The Center of Light: Spectroastrometric Detection of Exomoons

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