A superconducting focal plane array for ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared astrophysics

TL;DR

This paper reports the development of a novel superconducting MKID focal plane array capable of photon-counting and energy resolution across ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared wavelengths, promising advancements in astrophysics and other fields.

Contribution

First successful creation of a photon-counting, energy-resolving MKID array for UV, optical, and near-infrared, offering advantages over traditional semiconductor detectors.

Findings

Demonstrated photon counting with no false counts

Achieved energy and timing resolution for photons

Suitable pixel size and count rate for large telescopes

Abstract

Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, or MKIDs, have proven to be a powerful cryogenic detector technology due to their sensitivity and the ease with which they can be multiplexed into large arrays. A MKID is an energy sensor based on a photon-variable superconducting inductance in a lithographed microresonator, and is capable of functioning as a photon detector across the electromagnetic spectrum as well as a particle detector. Here we describe the first successful effort to create a photon-counting, energy-resolving ultraviolet, optical, and near infrared MKID focal plane array. These new Optical Lumped Element (OLE) MKID arrays have significant advantages over semiconductor detectors like charge coupled devices (CCDs). They can count individual photons with essentially no false counts and determine the energy and arrival time of every photon with good quantum efficiency. Their physical pixel size and maximum count rate is well matched with large telescopes. These capabilities enable powerful new astrophysical instruments usable from the ground and space. MKIDs could eventually supplant semiconductor detectors for most astronomical instrumentation, and will be useful for other disciplines such as quantum optics and biological imaging.