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Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors

(MKIDs) are superconducting microresonators whereby a photon absorption in the sensitive medium breaks cooper pairs leading to an increase in kinetic inductance, in turn causing changes in resonance phase and amplitude that can be used to sense the energy and time of arrival of each incoming photon. In this session we will learn more about MKIDs, their design optimization to have higher quantum efficiency and filling factor, less bandwidth, less cross-coupling and higher intrinsic and coupling quality factors. Also, we will learn about Large (Kilo-array) MKIDs, their current and future applications in astronomy and particle physics along with their related technical challenges.

McDonald Insititute seminars bring together experimental and theoretical astroparticle physicists and astronomers. They are held approximately fortnightly, September to November and January to March, and on an ad hoc basis outside of term. They currently take place on Tuesdays at 2:30 PM on Zoom. Contact Aaron Vincent if you would like to attend.

https://www.physics.queensu.ca/facultysites/vincent/seminars/