Performance of a 961 pixel kinetic inductance detector system for future space borne observatories

Abstract

Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) promise high sensitivity, combined with device simplicity and intrinsic multiplexibility. We demonstrate in this paper the realization of an imaging system consisting of an array of 961 antenna-coupled MKIDs that is read out using a single pair of coax cables and an analogue-digital back-end with a 2 GHz readout bandwidth. We measure the optical NEP of the central pixels of the array and find NEP = 510 -19 w/Vhz. The electrical NEP is measured for all pixels, giving NEP = 3.3 ± 1.310 -19 W/VHz for 85% of the pixels. We further obtain an instantaneous dynamic range of a factor 1000 and a cosmic ray dead time of 0.5% in the lab, resulting in 25% dead time when operated in a spacecraft at L2.