Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Microwave kinetic Inductance Detectors, MKIDs, combine device simplicity, intrinsic multiplexing capability and a good sensitivity for radiation detection from the X-ray to the sub-mm part of the electromagnetic spectrum. As a consequence MKIDs are now being developed in several varieties and for many different applications. The paper will shortly address the fundamentals of the physics of MKIDs and will elaborate on the various applications of MKID arrays currently under development.