Extending KIDs to the Mid-IR for Future Space and Suborbital Observatories

Abstract

The galaxy evolution probe (GEP) is a concept for a probe-class space observatory to study the physical processes related to star formation over cosmic time. To do so, the mid-and far-infrared (IR) spectra of galaxies must be studied. These mid-and far-IR observations require large multi-frequency arrays, sensitive detectors. Our goal is to develop low NEP aluminum kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) for wavelengths of 10-400 μm for the GEP and a pathfinder long-duration balloon (GEP-B) that will perform precursor GEP science. KIDs for the lower wavelength range (10-100 μm) have not been previously implemented. We present an absorber design for KIDs sensitive to wavelengths of 10 μm shown to have around 75-80% absorption efficiency through ANSYS HFSS (high-frequency structure simulator) simulations, challenges that come with optimizing our design to increase the wavelength range, initial tests on our design of fabricated 10 μm KIDs, and theoretical NEP calculations.

Galaxy Evolution Probe

“…Simulations indicate that this geometry achieves a peak single-polarization absorptivity of just over 70% near 10 μm for R □ ¼ 0.2 to 0.8 Ω, bracketing the range expected for a 40-nm Al film. Perido et al 63 presented dark measurements of Fig. 7 Far-IR detector technology has made considerable progress toward larger, more sensitive arrays over the past decade.…”

Upgrading the Field-Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy with kinetic inductance detectors: enabling large sample (extragalactic) surveys

“…The KIDs developed for TIM will also form the basis for the FIFI+LS blue channel detectors but will use a modified absorber and optical coupling scheme appropriate for the shorter wavelengths. Recent simulation work and initial testing was presented by Perido et al 21 in a study for detectors for the galaxy evolution probe (GEP). 22 Their work addresses KIDs designed for wavelengths between 10 and 100 μm.…”

“…Their simulation work has shown that thin aluminum film may be patterned on a silicon substrate to produce good optical absorption at wavelengths as short as 10 μm. The short meander design studied by Perido et al 21 used a 200-nm wide absorber line that is interrupted with a meander to increase the resistance per unit length while simultaneously introducing a distributed capacitance to compensate for the accompanying distributed inductance. For backside illumination, this design achieves a dualpolarization efficiency of 58% over the 10-to 30-μm band, a fractional bandwidth larger than that of the 51-to 125-μm FIFI+LS blue channel spectral range.…”

“…Perido et al 21 presented dark-noise measurements of KIDs patterned using their short meander design. The noise is dominated by the two-level system (TLS) noise common to KIDs, and when operating at 200 mK the electrical noise is S xx ¼ 6 × 10 −17 Hz −1 .…”

Analysis and Performance of Lumped-Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors for W-Band

“…Regarding polarization sensitivity, earth-based instruments such as NIKA2 [9] use an external polarizer that separates the two linear polarizations into two independent arrays based on a Hilbert fractal structure. On the other hand, some additional works have focused on the development of dual-polarization LEKIDs demonstrating simultaneous orthogonal polarization sensitivity in the millimeter and submillimeter wave ranges [8], [14]. However, very little has been done in developing dualpolarization LEKIDs in the W-band.…”