3 research outputs found
Lumped Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors for space applications
Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID) are now routinely used in ground-based
telescopes. Large arrays, deployed in formats up to kilopixels, exhibit
state-of-the-art performance at millimeter (e.g. 120-300 GHz, NIKA and NIKA2 on
the IRAM 30-meters) and sub-millimeter (e.g. 350-850 GHz AMKID on APEX)
wavelengths. In view of future utilizations above the atmosphere, we have
studied in detail the interaction of ionizing particles with LEKID (Lumped
Element KID) arrays. We have constructed a dedicated cryogenic setup that
allows to reproduce the typical observing conditions of a space-borne
observatory. We will report the details and conclusions from a number of
measurements. We give a brief description of our short term project, consisting
in flying LEKID on a stratospheric balloon named B-SIDE.Comment: To appear in the SPIE 2016 Proceeding
Optical Response of Lumped-Element Kinetic-Inductance Detector Arrays
International audienceWe present an analysis of the optical response of lumped-element kinetic-inductance detector arrays, based on the NIKA2 1 mm array. This array has a dual-polarization sensitive Hilbert inductor for directly absorbing incident photons. We present the optical response calculated from a transmission line model, simulated with HFSS and measured using a Fourier transform spectrometer. We have estimated the energy absorbed by individual component of a pixel, such as the inductor. The difference between the absorption efficiencies is expected to be 20% from the simulations. The Fourier-transform spectroscopy measurement, performed on the actual NIKA2 arrays, validates our simulations. We discuss several possible ways to increase the absorption efficiency. This analysis can be used for optimization of the focal plane layout and can be extended to other kinetic inductance detector array designs in millimeter, submillimeter, and terahertz frequency bands
The NĂ©el IRAM KID Arrays (NIKA)
We are developing an instrument based on Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID) known as the NĂ©el IRAM KID Array (NIKA). Leveraging the experience gained from the first generation NIKA in 2009, an improved, dual-band (150 GHz and 240 GHz) instrument has been designed and tested at the Institut of RadioAstronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) 30-meter telescope in October 2010. The performances, in terms of sensitivity on-the-sky at 150 GHz, are already comparable to existing state-of-the-art bolometer-based instruments. NIKA represents thus the first real proof that KID are a viable technology for ground-based Astronomy. We will describe the instrument, the most recent results and the future plans for building a large resident mm-wave camera