Kinetic Inductance Detectors for Space-Based Infrared Astronomy

Modern astronomy suffers from a gap between the coverage of JWST and ALMA in the mid/far-IR. The next observatory to fill this gap will need to be space-based and must rely on the ultrasensitive capabilities of superconducting detectors. Kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) are a promising candidate, but KIDs in the mid/far-IR are still in the very early phases of development, despite widespread KID use at other wavelengths. Support from the NSTGRO would enable me to lead design and testing of these mid/far-IR KIDs and subsystems necessary to support them in space-based operation. The end goal is to develop KIDs with noise limited by the level of background photons in space and that are three orders of magnitude more sensitive than prior mid/far-IR detectors.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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