skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Second Generation Readout For Large Format Photon Counting Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Journal Article · · Rev.Sci.Instrum.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0029457· OSTI ID:1765961

We present the development of a second generation digital readout system for photon counting microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) arrays operating in the optical and near-infrared wavelength bands. Our system retains much of the core signal processing architecture from the first generation system but with a significantly higher bandwidth, enabling the readout of kilopixel MKID arrays. Each set of readout boards is capable of reading out 1024 MKID pixels multiplexed over 2 GHz of bandwidth; two such units can be placed in parallel to read out a full 2048 pixel microwave feedline over a 4 GHz–8 GHz band. As in the first generation readout, our system is capable of identifying, analyzing, and recording photon detection events in real time with a time resolution of order a few microseconds. Here, we describe the hardware and firmware, and present an analysis of the noise properties of the system. We also present a novel algorithm for efficiently suppressing IQ mixer sidebands to below -30 dBc.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1765961
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-20-646-SCD; oai:inspirehep.net:1830243
Journal Information:
Rev.Sci.Instrum., Vol. 91, Issue 12
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (16)

Large-format platinum silicide microwave kinetic inductance detectors for optical to near-IR astronomy journal January 2017
Search for optical pulsations in PSR J0337+1715 journal March 2016
Direct detection of SDSS J0926+3624 orbital expansion with ARCONS journal February 2014
ARCONS: A 2024 Pixel Optical through Near-IR Cryogenic Imaging Spectrophotometer
  • Mazin, B. A.; Meeker, S. R.; Strader, M. J.
  • Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Vol. 125, Issue 933 https://doi.org/10.1086/674013
journal November 2013
DARKNESS: A Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector Integral Field Spectrograph for High-contrast Astronomy journal April 2018
The MKID Exoplanet Camera for Subaru SCExAO journal November 2020
Multiplexable kinetic inductance detectors
  • Mazin, B. A.; Day, P. K.; Zmuidzinas, J.
  • LOW TEMPERATURE DETECTORS: Ninth International Workshop on Low Temperature Detectors, AIP Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1457652
conference January 2002
A readout for large arrays of microwave kinetic inductance detectors journal April 2012
A broadband superconducting detector suitable for use in large arrays journal October 2003
Advances toward high spectral resolution quantum X-ray calorimetry journal February 1988
Note: Operation of gamma-ray microcalorimeters at elevated count rates using filters with constraints journal May 2013
Wide-band parametric amplifier readout and resolution of optical microwave kinetic inductance detectors journal July 2019
Noise properties of superconducting coplanar waveguide microwave resonators journal March 2007
Experimental evidence for a surface distribution of two-level systems in superconducting lithographed microwave resonators journal April 2008
Superconducting Microresonators: Physics and Applications journal March 2012
Exclusion limits on the WIMP nucleon elastic scattering cross-section from the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search report January 2000

Similar Records

Second generation readout for large format photon counting microwave kinetic inductance detectors
Journal Article · Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Review of Scientific Instruments · OSTI ID:1765961

A Scalable Readout for Microwave SQUID Multiplexing of Transition-Edge Sensors
Journal Article · Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Journal of Low Temperature Physics · OSTI ID:1765961

SLAC microresonator RF(SMuRF) electronics: A tone-tracking readout system for superconducting microwave resonator arrays
Journal Article · Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Review of Scientific Instruments · OSTI ID:1765961