Optimization of thermal kinetic inductance detectors for x-ray spectroscopy

Abstract

Thermal kinetic inductance detectors (TKIDs) are promising new detectors for use in X-ray spectroscopy because of the relative ease with which they can be fabricated into large arrays. While initial results have hinted at their resolution capability, the ultimate resolution achievable with these detectors has not been described. Using a bolometer matrix formalism, we examine the parameter space of the detector design (i.e., film critical temperature, detector operating temperature, resonator coupling, etc.) to examine the detectors response to noise sources, including phonon, Johnson, bias, and amplifier noise. Finally, we present the design of TKID optimized for 6-keV X-ray spectroscopy.

Review of superconducting transition-edge sensors for x-ray and gamma-ray spectroscopy

“…In contrast, high multiplexing factors are possible with MKIDs. In recent work, MKIDs have been used as thermal sensors for the temperature of an isolated platform in much the same way as TESs [20].…”

“…Most work to date has focused on long-wavelength astrophysics applications. For x-ray and gamma-ray applications, MKIDs have yet to show resolving powers that are competitive with TESs or magnetic calorimeters [19,20]. One issue for x-ray and gamma-ray applications is how to design a MKID that combines high detection area with good energy resolution.…”

Applications for Microwave Kinetic Induction Detectors in Advanced Instrumentation

“…They later instead suggest [112,145] using TKIDs in a thermal quasi-equilibrium state to detect X-ray photons. They use TKIDs as they do not require as strict limitations on the absorber design, as regular MKIDs for X-rays would.…”

Thermal Kinetic Inductance Detectors for Ground-Based Millimeter-Wave Cosmology

“…Improving constraints on r, the tensor-to-scalar ratio, hinges on imaging galactic dust in the 200-300 GHz atmospheric window, where the brightness of dust relative to the CMB is enhanced relative to 95 GHz or 150 GHz [2]. In this paper we explore the thermal kinetic inductance detector (TKID) as a path to fill a 200-300 GHz focal plane, inspired by detector developments for x-ray spectroscopy [3][4][5][6][7]. TKIDs are bolometers whose thermometer exploits the temperature dependence of the kinetic inductance effect.…”