Characterizing the optical response of ultra-low-noise far-infrared 60–110 μm transition edge sensors

Williams, Emily A.; Withington, S.; Goldie, D. J.; Thomas, Christopher N.; Ade, Peter A. R.; Sudiwala, R.

doi:10.1063/5.0025900

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Transition edge sensors (TESs) (Irwin & Hilton 2005) are used in many ground-based and balloon-borne observatories. Recent work (Audley et al 2016;Khosropanah et al 2016;Williams et al 2020) demonstrates the progress in horn-coupled devices operating in a 60-110 µm wavelength band reaching a NEP ∼ 3×10 −19 W/…”

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Ultra-sensitive THz microwave kinetic inductance detectors for future space telescopes

Baselmans

Facchin

Laguna

et al. 2022

A&A

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Aims. Future actively cooled space-borne observatories for the far-infrared, loosely defined as a 1-10 THz band, can potentially reach a sensitivity limited only by background radiation from the Universe. This will result in an increase in observing speed of many orders of magnitude. A spectroscopic instrument on such an observatory requires large arrays of detectors with a sensitivity expressed as a noise equivalent power NEP = 3 × 10 −20 W/ √Hz. Methods. We present the design, fabrication, and characterisation of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) for this frequency range reaching the required sensitivity. The devices are based on thin-film NbTiN resonators which use lens-antenna coupling to a submicron-width aluminium transmission line at the shorted end of the resonator where the radiation is absorbed. We optimised the MKID geometry for a low NEP by using a small aluminium volume of ≈ 1 µm 3 and fabricating the aluminium section on a very thin (100 nm) SiN membrane. Both methods of optimisation also reduce the effect of excess noise by increasing the responsivity of the device, which is further increased by reducing the parasitic geometrical inductance of the resonator. Results. We measure the sensitivity of eight MKIDs with respect to the power absorbed in the detector using a thermal calibration source filtered in a narrow band around 1.5 THz. We obtain a NEP exp (P abs ) = 3.1 ± 0.9 × 10 −20 W/ √Hz at a modulation frequency of 200 Hz averaged over all measured MKIDs. The NEP is limited by quasiparticle trapping. Conclusions. The measured sensitivity is sufficient for spectroscopic observations from future, actively cooled space-based observatories. Moreover, the presented device design and assembly can be adapted for frequencies up to ≈ 10 THz and can be readily implemented in kilopixel arrays.

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“…Hz using a thermal calibration source (Williams et al 2020). Nagler et al (2020) suggest a possible route towards even better sensitivities, reaching an electrical NEP < 10 −20 W/…”

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confidence: 99%

Ultra-sensitive THz microwave kinetic inductance detectors for future space telescopes

Baselmans

Facchin

Laguna

et al. 2022

A&A

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“…Transition edge sensors (TESs) 4 are used in many groundbased and balloon-borne observatories. Recent work [5][6][7] demonstrates the progress in horn-coupled devices operata) J.Baselmans@sron.nl ing in a 60-110 µm wavelength band reaching a NEP ∼ 3×10 −19 W/…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Hz using a thermal calibration source 7 . Nagler, Sadleir, and Wollack 8 suggest a possible route towards even better sensitivities, reaching an electrical NEP < 10 −20 W/…”

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confidence: 99%

Ultra-sensitive Super-THz Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors for future space telescopes

Baselmans¹,

Facchin²,

Laguna³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Future actively cooled space-borne observatories for the far-infrared, loosely defined as a 1-10 THz band, can potentially reach a sensitivity limited only by background radiation from the Universe. This will result in an increase in observing speed of many orders of magnitude. A spectroscopic instrument on such an observatory requires large arrays of detectors with a sensitivity expressed as a noise equivalent power NEP = 3 × 10 −20 W/ √Hz. We present the design, fabrication, and characterisation of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) for this frequency range reaching the required sensitivity. The devices are based on thin-film NbTiN resonators which use lens-antenna coupling to a submicron-width aluminium transmission line at the shorted end of the resonator where the radiation is absorbed. We optimised the MKID geometry for a low NEP by using a small aluminium volume of ≈ 1 µm 3 and fabricating the aluminium section on a very thin (100 nm) SiN membrane. Both methods of optimisation also reduce the effect of excess noise by increasing the responsivity of the device, which is further increased by reducing the parasitic geometrical inductance of the resonator. We measure the sensitivity of eight MKIDs with respect to the power absorbed in the detector using a thermal calibration source filtered in a narrow band around 1.55 THz. We obtain a NEP exp (P abs ) = 3.1 ± 0.9 × 10 −20 W/ √Hz at a modulation frequency of 200 Hz averaged over all measured MKIDs. The NEP is limited by quasiparticle trapping. The measured sensitivity is sufficient for spectroscopic observations from future, actively cooled space-based observatories. Moreover, the presented device design and assembly can be adapted for frequencies up to ≈ 10 THz and can be readily implemented in kilopixel arrays.

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A 25-micrometer Single-Photon-Sensitive Kinetic Inductance Detector

Day,

Cothard,

Albert

et al. 2024

Phys. Rev. X

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We report measurements characterizing the performance of a kinetic inductance detector array designed for a wavelength of 25 microns and very low optical background level suitable for applications such as a far-infrared instrument on a cryogenically cooled space telescope. In a pulse-counting mode of operation at low optical flux, the detectors can resolve individual 25-micron photons. In an integrating mode, the detectors remain photon noise limited over more than 6 orders of magnitude in absorbed power from 70 zW to 200 fW, with a limiting noise equivalent power of 4.6×10−20 W Hz−1 at 1 Hz. In addition, the detectors are highly stable with flat power spectra under optical load down to 1 mHz. Operational parameters of the detector are determined including the efficiency of conversion of the incident optical power into quasiparticles in the aluminum absorbing element and the quasiparticle self-recombination constant. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

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Characterizing the optical response of ultra-low-noise far-infrared 60–110 μm transition edge sensors

Cited by 3 publications

References 24 publications

Ultra-sensitive THz microwave kinetic inductance detectors for future space telescopes

Ultra-sensitive THz microwave kinetic inductance detectors for future space telescopes

Ultra-sensitive Super-THz Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors for future space telescopes

A 25-micrometer Single-Photon-Sensitive Kinetic Inductance Detector

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