CCAT: Comparisons of 280 GHz TiN and Al Kinetic Inductance Detector Arrays

TL;DR

This paper compares the performance and noise characteristics of TiN and Al kinetic inductance detector arrays for the CCAT telescope's 280 GHz instrument module, providing insights into material effects on detector performance.

Contribution

It presents the first direct comparison of TiN and Al KID arrays within the same instrument, highlighting differences in performance and noise properties.

Findings

Preliminary lab testing shows performance differences between TiN and Al arrays.

Material choice impacts noise levels and operational stability.

Comparison informs future detector material selection for submillimeter astronomy.

Abstract

The CCAT Collaboration's six-meter Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope is scheduled to begin observing in the Chilean Atacama in 2025, targeting a variety of science goals throughout cosmic history. Prime-Cam is a 1.8-meter diameter cryostat that will host up to seven independent instrument modules designed for simultaneous spectroscopic and broadband, polarimetric surveys at millimeter to submillimeter wavelengths. The first of these instrument modules, the 280 GHz module, will include ${\sim}$10,000 kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) across three arrays. While the first array was fabricated out of tri-layer TiN/Ti/TiN, the other two arrays were fabricated out of a single layer of Al. This combination of materials within the same instrument provides a unique opportunity to directly compare the performance and noise properties of two different detector materials that are seeing increasing use within the field. We present preliminary comparisons here based on lab testing, along with a discussion of the potential impacts on operation when observing and translating raw data to science-grade maps.