Nonlinear Kinetic Inductance Devices for Future Millimeter Wave Detection

ORAL

Abstract

Submillimeter and far-infrared radiation, originating from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and warm dust in star forming galaxies, make up a significant part of the radiation in the universe. Precise studies focusing on this radiation will help answer questions about how the universe formed and provide information on cornerstone topics in physics: the big bang, the search for dark matter, and the relation between quantum mechanics and gravitational fields. Traditionally, electromagnetic radiation in this spectrum has been detected with the use of bolometers; however, bolometers have reached their limit of sensitivity. For in-depth analyses of CMB, overall sensitivity must increase. Recent developments in microwave detection technology have attempted to reduce device size to achieve greater sensitivity, one example being the kinetic inductance parametric up-converter (KPUP). KPUPs use nonlinearity in the superconductors to observe a shift in resonant frequency by a change in inductance when a DC current is applied to an inductor-capacitor circuit. Additionally, nanofabrication allows for more devices per unit area, increasing overall sensitivity. This work will focus on the design of filter components for KPUP test chips and cryogenic testing.

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Authors

  • Amy Soudachanh

    University of New Mexico

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago