Collaborative Research: Scalable Kilo-Pixel Detector Modules Based on Polarization Sensitive Multi-Chroic Aluminum Manganese MKIDs

宇宙微波背景是宇宙处于萌芽阶段的图像。它横跨整个天空，但只有对微波敏感的探测器才能看到它。以更高的精度理解这一背景导致了我们目前对宇宙学的理解。进一步的进步需要更灵敏、更精确的探测器。约翰逊和他的合作者正在开发一种新的、具有潜在变革性的技术，称为微波动态电感探测器(MKID)。这种装置有一层对光特别敏感的超导薄膜。这些设备对偏振也很敏感，这使它们能够做出进一步的科学发现。MKID可以扩展为大型阵列，这是精确观测所需的。约翰逊和他的合作者将使用一种新材料--锰掺杂铝来创建MKID。他们将建造一个像素数量超过十倍的改进原型探测器，并展示其灵敏度和可扩展性。该项目将开发对130-280 GHz范围内亚毫米辐射敏感的偏振敏感微波动态电感探测器(MKID)的千像素阵列。MKID通过使用超导谐振器工作，当入射光子破坏器件中的库珀对时，超导谐振器的谐振频率会改变。共振的变化由驱动谐振器的探针音来监测。每个探测器可以具有独特的共振，从而能够将多个像素多路传输到单个输出信号中。这种多路传输可以实现非常大的探测器阵列。约翰逊和他的合作者将开发一种使用锰掺杂铝的新MKID设计，该设计已成功用于另一种探测器技术。他们将把现有的23个元素的设计扩大到331个元素的模块。他们将测试这个原型，并证明可以实现~1000倍的多路复用。最后，他们将扩大制造流水线，以生产更多的设备。该项目将展示这些MKID的性能可与竞争对手的技术相媲美，并展示其超越当前技术的潜力，特别是在大型阵列的可扩展性方面。

The cosmic microwave background is an image of the Universe in its infancy. It spans the entire sky, but it is only visible to detectors that are sensitive to microwaves. Understanding this background with ever-greater precision led to our current understanding of cosmology. Further advances require more sensitive and precise detectors. Johnson and collaborators are developing a novel, potentially transformative technology called Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs). Such devices have a superconducting film that is especially sensitive to light. The devices are also sensitive to polarization, which enables them to make further scientific discoveries. MKIDs can be scaled to large arrays, which are needed for precise observations. Johnson and collaborators will create MKIDs using a new material -- manganese doped aluminum. They will build an improved prototype detector with more than ten times the number of pixels and demonstrate its sensitivity and scalability.This project will develop kilo-pixel arrays of polarization-sensitive Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) that are sensitive to submillimeter radiation in the range 130-280 GHz. MKIDs operate by using superconducting resonators whose resonant frequency changes when incident photons break Cooper pairs in the device. Changes in resonance are monitored by a probe tone that drives the resonator. Each detector can have a unique resonance, which enables multiplexing many pixels onto a single output signal. Such multiplexing may enable very large arrays of detectors. Johnson and collaborators will develop a new MKID design using manganese doped aluminum, which has been used successfully in another detector technology. They will scale up their existing 23 element design to a 331 element module. They will test this prototype and demonstrate that multiplexing factors of ~1000 are achievable. Finally, they will expand the fabrication pipeline to enable production of more devices. This project will demonstrate the performance of these MKIDs to be comparable to competing technology and demonstrate its potential to advance beyond current technology, especially in terms of scalability for large arrays.