Design methodology of hybrid-type microwave kinetic inductance detectors toward ground-based mm-submm observations
Abstract
Context. Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) are superconducting detectors that have the potential to contribute to the construction of over 10 000 pixel cameras required for mm and submm astronomical observations over the next decade. One of the issues related to its application is two-level-system (TLS) noise that creates a 1/ f term in the power spectrum density (PSD) of the detectors. A hybrid-type MKID has been proposed for TLS noise suppression without affecting the MKID performance. In this paper, we present a systematic method to model a hybrid-type MKID for mitigating TLS noise while achieving high sensitivity. Aims. Previous studies have shown that TLS noise in MKIDs depends on the sampling frequency, internal power, device geometry, and temperature. The strength of the electrical field distribution along the resonator line also affects the TLS noise properties. Based on this knowledge, we constructed a noise model of a hybrid-type MKID. Methods. Using this model, we designed MKIDs for the cosmic microwave background radiation experiment, GroundBIRD. We evaluated the 1/ f noise properties and NET of the fabricated devices using the on-site measurements. Based on the NET measurements, we can confirm that the white noise of fabricated detectors is limited by atmospheric photon noise. From the 1/ f noise measurements, we also confirm that it is possible to reach an atmospheric photon noise limit down to a low sampling frequency (i.e., of a few Hz) at the typical observation conditions from Teide observatory. Results. We confirm the design methodology we propose for hybrid-type MKID works well in optimizing the TLS model to the hybrid-type MKID, as evidenced by performance verification measurements carried out in the laboratory and on site.
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BibTeX
@article{tanaka2026design,
title = {{Design methodology of hybrid-type microwave kinetic inductance detectors toward ground-based mm-submm observations}},
author = {T. Tanaka and K. Karatsu and H. Kutsuma and A. Coppens and A. Endo and M. Hattori and S. Honda and C. Otani and Y. Sueno and O. Tajima and D. Thoen and J. Suzuki and R. Génova-Santos and M. Peel and A. Fasano and Y. Jo and E. Won and M. Tsujii and J. Baselmans},
journal = {Astronomy \& Astrophysics - A\&A},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/202659869},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05771408v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Design methodology of hybrid-type microwave kinetic inductance detectors toward ground-based mm-submm observations
AU - T. Tanaka
AU - K. Karatsu
AU - H. Kutsuma
AU - A. Coppens
AU - A. Endo
AU - M. Hattori
AU - S. Honda
AU - C. Otani
AU - Y. Sueno
AU - O. Tajima
AU - D. Thoen
AU - J. Suzuki
AU - R. Génova-Santos
AU - M. Peel
AU - A. Fasano
AU - Y. Jo
AU - E. Won
AU - M. Tsujii
AU - J. Baselmans
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A
DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202659869
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05771408v1
AB - Context. Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) are superconducting detectors that have the potential to contribute to the construction of over 10 000 pixel cameras required for mm and submm astronomical observations over the next decade. One of the issues related to its application is two-level-system (TLS) noise that creates a 1/ f term in the power spectrum density (PSD) of the detectors. A hybrid-type MKID has been proposed for TLS noise suppression without affecting the MKID performance. In this paper, we present a systematic method to model a hybrid-type MKID for mitigating TLS noise while achieving high sensitivity. Aims. Previous studies have shown that TLS noise in MKIDs depends on the sampling frequency, internal power, device geometry, and temperature. The strength of the electrical field distribution along the resonator line also affects the TLS noise properties. Based on this knowledge, we constructed a noise model of a hybrid-type MKID. Methods. Using this model, we designed MKIDs for the cosmic microwave background radiation experiment, GroundBIRD. We evaluated the 1/ f noise properties and NET of the fabricated devices using the on-site measurements. Based on the NET measurements, we can confirm that the white noise of fabricated detectors is limited by atmospheric photon noise. From the 1/ f noise measurements, we also confirm that it is possible to reach an atmospheric photon noise limit down to a low sampling frequency (i.e., of a few Hz) at the typical observation conditions from Teide observatory. Results. We confirm the design methodology we propose for hybrid-type MKID works well in optimizing the TLS model to the hybrid-type MKID, as evidenced by performance verification measurements carried out in the laboratory and on site.
SN - 0004-6361
SN - 1432-0746
ER -