Novel Frequency-Domain Multiplexing MKID Readout for the LiteBIRD Satellite

Abstract

The satellite LiteBIRD (Light satellite for the studies of B-mode polarization and Inflation from cosmic background Radiation Detection) is being designed to detect the B-mode polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation. LiteBIRD will carry about 2,000 detectors for measurements in five bands (60, 80, 100, 150, and 220 GHz). Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) that can be multiplexed in a single readout line are suitable for the large focal plane detector array. We develop an MKID readout system for LiteBIRD to monitor the amplitude, phase, and resonant frequency of each MKID resonator simultaneously and follow movements of the resonant frequency caused by changes in the input radiation intensity. This mechanism enables us to have a larger dynamic range for the MKIDs, compared with a system that monitors the amplitude and phase on the resonant frequency. We also propose an MKID having a half-wavelength resonator. This MKID transmits the resonant microwave signal from one feedline to another. It can offer clear microwaves passing through the resonators, even if the coupling and internal quality factors are mismatched. With this MKID, our readout system can track resonance frequency changes much more easily. We present the status of the readout system development and demonstrate the performance with the half-wavelength MKID.