Design and performance of dual-polarization lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors for millimeter-wave polarimetry

McCarrick, H., Jones, G., Johnson, B.R., Abitbol, M.H., Ade, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5127-0401, Bryan, S., Day, P., Essinger-Hileman, T., Flanigan, D., Leduc, H.G., Limon, M., Mauskopf, Philip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6397-5516, Miller, A. and Tucker, Carole ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1851-3918 2018. Design and performance of dual-polarization lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors for millimeter-wave polarimetry. Astronomy and Astrophysics 610 , A45. 10.1051/0004-6361/201732044

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Abstract

Aims. Lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors (LEKIDs) are an attractive technology for millimeter-wave observations that require large arrays of extremely low-noise detectors. We designed, fabricated and characterized 64-element (128 LEKID) arrays of horn-coupled, dual-polarization LEKIDs optimized for ground-based CMB polarimetry. Our devices are sensitive to two orthogonal polarizations in a single spectral band centered on 150 GHz with ∆ν/ν = 0.2. The 65×65 mm square arrays are designed to be tiled into the focal plane of an optical system. We demonstrate the viability of these dual-polarization LEKIDs with laboratory measurements. Methods. The LEKID modules are tested with an FPGA-based readout system in a sub-kelvin cryostat that uses a two stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator. The devices are characterized using a blackbody and a millimeter-wave source. The polarization properties are measured with a cryogenic stepped half-wave plate. We measure the resonator parameters and the detector sensitivity, noise spectrum, dynamic range, and polarization response. Results. The resonators have internal quality factors approaching 1 × 106. The detectors have uniform response between orthogonal polarizations and a large dynamic range. The detectors are photon-noise limited above 1 pW of absorbed power. The noise-equivalent temperatures under a 3.4 K blackbody load are < 100 µK √ s. The polarization fractions of detectors sensitive to orthogonal polarizations are > 80%. The entire array is multiplexed on a single readout line, demonstrating a multiplexing factor of 128. The array and readout meet the requirements for 4 arrays to be read out simultaneously for a multiplexing factor of 512. Conclusions. This laboratory study demonstrates the first dual-polarization LEKID array optimized specifically for CMB polarimetry and shows the readiness of the detectors for on-sky observations.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Physics and Astronomy
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics
Publisher:	EDP Sciences
ISSN:	0004-6361
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	7 December 2017
Date of Acceptance:	17 November 2017
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 08:25
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/107431

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