Thermal kinetic inductance detectors for ground-based millimeter-wave cosmology

TL;DR

This paper presents measurements of thermal kinetic inductance detectors (TKIDs) designed for millimeter-wave cosmology, demonstrating their thermal and noise properties for potential use in ground-based observations.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed characterization of TKIDs' thermal conductance, time constant, noise, and resonator quality factors in the context of millimeter-wave cosmology.

Findings

Measured bolometer thermal conductance and time constant.

Achieved noise equivalent power suitable for cosmological observations.

Identified two-level system effects limiting resonator quality factor.

Abstract

We show measurements of thermal kinetic inductance detectors (TKID) intended for millimeter wave cosmology in the 200-300 GHz atmospheric window. The TKID is a type of bolometer which uses the kinetic inductance of a superconducting resonator to measure the temperature of the thermally isolated bolometer island. We measure bolometer thermal conductance, time constant and noise equivalent power. We also measure the quality factor of our resonators as the bath temperature varies to show they are limited by effects consistent with coupling to two level systems.