Superconducting Materials and Devices
Scientists continue development of devices that detect the cosmic microwave background and the elemental composition of distant galaxies during the formation of the universe, and at home map Earth’s radiation balance and empower our new telescopes.
The Superconducting Materials and Devices Group’s primary focus is on cryogenic millimeter and submillimeter detectors for spectroscopy, imaging, and polarimetry measurements in astrophysics. JPL has been a pioneer in the development of superconducting detectors for far-infrared/submillimeter astrophysics for 25 years. Initially, this effort focused on superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers for heterodyne receivers for high-resolution spectroscopy, used on ground-based telescopes around the world as well as on current and planned NASA flight missions. Recent development efforts have been on large-format arrays of direct detectors for spectroscopy, imaging, and polarimetry for astrophysics and application of these technologies for Earth and planetary science.
Current Projects
MDL Technologies on Herschel & Planck
MDL-developed technologies are performing well for ESA’s Herschel & Planck missions.
TES Bolometers
The use of TESs enables arrays with a much larger number of pixels than is practical with spider-web bolometers.
Superconducting Integrated Circuits for Quantum Computation
MDL is advancing adiabatic quantum computation (AQC) by teaming with D-Wave Systems Inc.
Quantum Capacitance Detector (QCD)
The QCD is a new concept for a photo-detector based on Cooper-pair breaking in superconductors using a single Cooper-pair box (SCB…
First Light at Palomar Using OLE MKID
The past year has seen dramatic improvements in the OLE MKIDs.
Array Technology for MUSIC Instrument
MUSIC (MUltiband Submillimeter Inductance Camera) is a camera based on kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs)…
Ultra-Low-Noise Detectors for BLISS
MDL makes important steps in 2011 towards the development of detectors for BLISS.
Next-Generation CERES Instrument
MDL is furthering development of the next-generation CERES-C to enhance climate forecasts.
Low-Frequency KIDs
In 2011, MDL began studying the operation of kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) at lower readout frequencies.
Antenna-Coupled Bolometers
MDL pushes detector technology further by developing arrays with approximately 10X the quantity of pixels in either Herschel or Planck.
MKIDs
MDL is focused on two major MKID projects: energy-resolving, photon-counting optical detector arrays, and multiband submillimeter-wave imaging arrays…
SNSPDs
Single-photon near-infrared detectors are being developed for future space-to-ground communication links…
SIS Mixers
SIS Mixers may soon help address questions of climate change, ozone layer stability, and air quality…