Photon Rate Estimation in MKIDs
Optimal Estimation of the Photon Rate in Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors via Statistical Digital Signal Processing Methods
P.J. Rozestraten (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
A.J. van der van der Veen – Mentor (TU Delft - Signal Processing Systems)
Jochem J.A. Baselmans – Mentor (TU Delft - Tera-Hertz Sensing)
R. T. Rajan – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Signal Processing Systems)
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Abstract
Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) are superconduct- ing detectors that are excellent candidates for astronomy in the far- infrared (FIR), roughly 100 GHz to 10 THz. Radiation in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum is particularly hard to detect compared to optical or near-infrared radiation. Furthermore, some sources in the FIR are so faint that the detectors are required to detect sin- gle photons to determine the incident photon rate. Recent MKIDs are highly sensitve and are capable of detecting single photons in the FIR, although detection of lower energy photons remains a challenge. Photons produce pulses in the output signal of the detector. As the pulse height is dependent on the photon energy, low energy photons are hard to distinguish from the noise. This thesis presents a system model that is used in estimating the photon rate. The system model describes signal relations and noise characteristics, so that it provides a foundation for developing statistical estimation and detection algorithms. Based on this model, various estimators are proposed, e.g. a generalized matched filter. This shows the utility of the system model in deriving solutions for estimation problems. This thesis represents a first step in advancing signal processing techniques for single photon detection in MKIDs designed for FIR astronomy.