A 25-micrometer Single-Photon-Sensitive Kinetic Inductance Detector
Physical Review X, vol. 14
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 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
Authors 17
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Peter K. Day corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
California Institute of Technology
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
California Institute of Technology
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
California Institute of Technology
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Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Delft University of Technology
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Delft University of Technology
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research
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Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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California Institute of Technology · Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Affiliation as printed
California Institute of Technology
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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