A 25-micron single photon sensitive kinetic inductance detector

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

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 six orders of magnitude in absorbed power from 70 zW to 200 fW, with a limiting NEP of 4.6 x 10^-20 W/rtHz 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.

Authors 17

1. Peter K. Day

   Jet Propulsion Laboratory

   Affiliation as printed

   Jet Propulsion Laboratory , California Institute of Technology , 4800 Oak Grove Dr. , Pasadena , 91107 , CA , USA

2. Nicholas F. Cothard

   Goddard Space Flight Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , 8800 Greenbelt Rd , Greenbelt , 20771 , MD , USA

3. Logan M. Foote

   California Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   California Institute of Technology , 1200 California Blvd. , Pasadena , 91125 , CA , USA

4. Elijah Kane

   California Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   California Institute of Technology , 1200 California Blvd. , Pasadena , 91125 , CA , USA

5. Byeong Ho Eom
6. R. Basu Thakur
7. R. M. J. Janssen
8. Andrew D. Beyer
9. P. M. Echternach
10. Sven van Berkel
11. Steven Hailey-Dunsheath

    California Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    California Institute of Technology , 1200 California Blvd. , Pasadena , 91125 , CA , USA

12. Thomas R. Stevenson

    Goddard Space Flight Center

    Affiliation as printed

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , 8800 Greenbelt Rd , Greenbelt , 20771 , MD , USA

13. Shahab O. Dabironezare Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4 , Leiden , 2333 CA , The Netherlands

14. J. J. A. Baselmans Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4 , Leiden , 2333 CA , The Netherlands

15. Jason Glenn

    Goddard Space Flight Center

    Affiliation as printed

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , 8800 Greenbelt Rd , Greenbelt , 20771 , MD , USA

16. Charles Matt Bradford
17. Henry George LeDuc