Properties of a Nanowire Kinetic Inductance Detector Array

Abstract

In this paper, we report on the preliminary results of a nanowire kinetic inductance detector, a device which operates as both a standard kinetic inductance detector (KID) and a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). The device consists of an array of detectors, each with a characteristic resonant frequency which can be readout and distinguished on a single transmission line. We demonstrate, due to the nanowire’s small volume, a higher responsivity when operating as a KID under optical loading. Operating the device as an SNSPD, we show the sinusoidal pulse generated from an absorbed photon. Multiple detectors can be struck simultaneously while maintaining the capability to distinguish each pixel. Preliminary results show a variation in count rates among the array, and sources are discussed in the text.