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Journal of Low Temperature Physics

Development of Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors for IR Single-Photon Counting

R. Mezzena, M. Faverzani, E. Ferri, Andrea Giachero, B. Margesin, Angelo Nucciotti, Andrei Puiu, Andrea Vinante

Published Nov 10, 2019• 12 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1007/s10909-019-02251-1

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Abstract Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) combine significant advantages for photon detection like single photon counting, single pixel energy resolution, vanishing dark counts and µs time resolution with a simple design and the feasibility to scale up into the megapixel range. But high quality MKID fabrication remains challenging as established superconductors tend to either have intrinsic disadvantages, are challenging to deposit or require very low operating temperatures. As alternating stacks of thin Ti and TiN films have shown very impressive results for far-IR and sub-mm MKIDs, they promise significant improvements for UV, visible to near-IR MKIDs as well, especially as they are comparably easy to fabricate and control. In this paper, we present our ongoing project to adapt proximity coupled superconducting films for photon counting MKIDs. Some of the main advantages of Ti/TiN multilayers are their good control of critical temperature (Tc) and their great homogeneity of Tc even over large wafers, promising improved pixel yield especially for large arrays. We demonstrate the effect different temperatures during fabrication have on the detector performance and discuss excess phase noise observed caused by surface oxidization of exposed Si. Our first prototypes achieved photon energy resolving powers of up to 3.1 but turned out to be much too insensitive. As the work presented is still in progress, we also discuss further improvements planned for the near future.
Noise is one of the main factors affecting the performance index of weak signal detection devices, and the optimal filtering algorithm is an effective method to adaptively extract various useful weak signals from the white noise background. In order to improve the performance of single photon detector (especially the photon number resolution ability), one mainly focuses on the optimization of detector hardware such as the optimization of photosensitive materials and the technology of device fabrication. However, in this paper the performance of microwave kinetic Inductance detector (MKID) in the way of data processing is improved. Considering the fact that the template of light pulse signal in the optimal filtering algorithm is obtained by taking the average, we replace the noise model in the original optimal filtering algorithm with the white noise model and the whitening noise model. Then we process the photon response data that are detected by the MKID in an extremely low temperature environment. The results show that the energy resolution (one of the main performance indexes of single photon detector) of MKID is improved by about 15%, and we achieve an infrared single photon energy resolution of 0.26 eV. In this paper, the application and development trends of superconducting single photon detector are briefed. Then, how the MKID responds to weak coherent optical signal in low temperature environment, and the process of signal conversion, acquisition and output are explained in detail. According to the optimal filtering algorithm, we use different noise models to analyze the results of the signals detected by MKID. After that, we count the optimal amplitude multiple, perform the Gaussian fitting analysis on the statistical graph, and compare the energy resolution with the photon number resolution of the optimal filtering algorithm under different noise models. As a result, we find that under the white noise model, the optimal filtering algorithm is used to obtain the best result for MKID processing, and high energy resolution can be achieved.
Single-photon direct detectors in the submillimeter, far-IR and mid-IR range are highly desirable for reaching the sensitivity permitted by the low background noise of cryogenic-optics space telescopes, such as envisioned in NASA’s Origins Space Telescope concept. When combined with arrays of integrated spectrometers they can enable revolutionary advances in astrophysical studies such as fast spectroscopic surveys of the high redshift universe from space. Coherent receivers, which are fundamentally limited by quantum vacuum noise are critical for high-spectral-resolution studies of molecular and atomic emission lines and can reveal the origins of galaxies, stars, and even life. They can also enable future space-based VLBI missions, such as the Photon Ring Telescope concept, to study black holes. I will review recent advances in key superconducting technologies being developed for the above areas, including single-photon far/IR Kinetic Inductance Detectors, integrated submillimeter spectrometers, and quantum-limited kinetic inductance amplifiers for microwave readout of detectors and for mm/sub-mm coherent receivers.