A readout system for microwave kinetic inductance detectors using software defined radios

M. Shafiee, D. Fedorov, B. Grossan, V. Kizheppatt, G. F. Smoot

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) are typically readout using custom high-speed electronics and firmware, a challenging and time-intensive undertaking. We have developed a readout system for these devices using a software defined radio (SDR), a software implementation of radiofrequency signal processing. The SDR allows use of pre-existing software libraries and minimizes specialized firmware coding, a significant reduction in effort. We customized our SDR to readout mm and optical band MKIDs with resonant frequencies of 1.8-2 GHz and 2-2.2 GHz respectively. We used this readout system to measure the sensitivity of our MKIDs devices to visible light. We show that SDRs are a good candidate for small pixel count MKIDs readout systems, and make recommendations for readout systems for larger Pixel count arrays.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberP07015
JournalJournal of Instrumentation
Volume16
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021

Keywords

  • Detectors for UV
  • Front-end electronics for detector readout
  • IR photons
  • Superconductive detectors (bolometers, tunnel junctions etc)
  • Visible

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Instrumentation
  • Mathematical Physics

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