We report measurements characterizing the performance of a kinetic inductance detector array designed for a wavelength of 25 microns and very low optical background level suitable for applications such as a far-infrared instrument on a cryogenically cooled space telescope. In a pulse-counting mode of operation at low optical flux, the detectors can resolve individual 25-micron photons. In an integrating mode, the detectors remain photon noise limited over more than 6 orders of magnitude in absorbed power from 70 zW to 200 fW, with a limiting noise equivalent power of 4.6×10−20  W Hz−1 at 1 Hz. In addition, the detectors are highly stable with flat power spectra under optical load down to 1 mHz. Operational parameters of the detector are determined including the efficiency of conversion of the incident optical power into quasiparticles in the aluminum absorbing element and the quasiparticle self-recombination constant.

中文翻译：

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一种 25 微米单光子敏感动力学电感检测器


我们报告了表征动力学电感探测器阵列性能的测量结果，该阵列设计用于 25 微米波长和极低的光学背景水平，适用于低温冷却太空望远镜上的远红外仪器等应用。在低光通量的脉冲计数操作模式下，探测器可以分辨单个 25 微米光子。在积分模式下，探测器在 70 zW 至 200 fW 的吸收功率中保持超过 6 个数量级的光子噪声限制，在 1 Hz 时，极限噪声等效功率为 4.6×10−20 W Hz−1。此外，探测器在低至 1 mHz 的光负载下具有平坦的功率光谱，高度稳定。确定检测器的工作参数，包括在铝吸收元件中将入射光功率转换为准粒子的效率以及准粒子自复合常数。