Alessandro Monfardini (Institut Néel, Grenoble)

"Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs) for Astronomy"

Low temperature detectors are now widely used in Astronomy (e.g. Planck, SCUBA-II, MAMBO-II, BoloCam etc.). Bolometers
(either TES or semiconductors) have been so far the best choice, having for example excellent single-pixel performances.
The main limitations are related to a number of practical difficulties in fabricating and reading out large arrays. In 2001 Caltech-JPL
proposed a new, simple, intrinsically multiplexable detector based on planar RF superconducting resonators. We recently started
working on this subject at the Institut Néel, Grenoble. Coordinating the NIKA (Néel IRAM KIDs Array) collaboration, we have
developed arrays of KIDs for mm-wave ground-based Astronomy. I will present the basic principles, our particular implementation,
the read-out electronics developed in-house and the results of the first technical run at the IRAM 30-m telescope in Spain.
The sensitivity has to be improved in order to match the "photon-noise-limited" condition. However, the results of this first European
KIDs camera are encouraging in view of the new developments. I will also very briefly review other ongoing KIDs developments
(SRON, Santa Barbara, Caltech, Cambridge) for mm, sub-mm, X and optical Astronomy.