Antenna-coupled microwave kinetic inductance detectors

We report on the development of Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) coupled to planar antennas for millimeter/submillimeter wavelengths. The MKID is a relatively new type of superconducting photon detector which is applicable from millimeter-wave frequencies to X-rays. Photons are absorbed in a superconductor, producing quasiparticle excitations, which change the surface reactance (kinetic inductance) of the superconductor. The changes in kinetic inductance are monitored using microwave high-Q thin-film superconducting resonators. Because the MKID is particularly amenable to frequency-domain multiplexing, with likely detector multiplexing factors of similar to 10(3) or more per cryogenic amplifier, these detectors are well suited for use in large arrays. We have fabricated MKIDs coupled to submillimeter slot-array antennas using microstrip lines and have detected power from a thermal radiation source. We discuss the potential of antenna-coupled MKID arrays for ground and space-based millimeter/submillimeter imaging. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.