Objective
The question: ‘are we alone in the universe?’, is a central question in astronomy. It has become even more relevant due to the discovery of exoplanets within the habitable zone around their star. The presence of life could be determined from biomarkers in the spectrum of a planet’s atmosphere. However, an Earth-like planet around a Sun-like star is very faint, after suppressing the starlight. A crucial technology is therefore a noiseless, photon-counting detector, which resolves the energy of each photon. For NASA’s new flagship mission Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), detectors have been identified as a large technology-gap with high impact, a gap that should be closed before 2030. Established semiconductor detectors have too high noise, and no energy-resolution.
I propose to close this technology gap using energy-resolving microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs), for visible to near-infrared wavelengths. A single photon generates thousands of excitations in the detector, which gives a direct measure of the photon energy. MKIDs have zero dark current and read noise, and a theoretical intrinsic resolving power of R>150. This enables the detection of biomarkers within each pixel.
My group has recently realised three breakthroughs. We have measured R=70 at 402 nm, developed an antireflection coating and a fabrication method that improves yield. I will use these key ingredients to realise a 32 kpixel MKID instrument which meets the HWO specs: R>140 at 1 μm wavelength, an absorption efficiency >90%, and negligible dark counts, with >95% pixel yield.
With this proposal, I will enable noiseless exoplanet spectroscopy in space and on ground, and raise the TRL level to ~TRL5 by 2030, in line with the current HWO schedule. A European detector contribution could close a major technology gap of HWO. MKIDs will play a key role for high-contrast imaging on the new extremely large telescope (E-ELT) as wavefront sensor and focal plane detector.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets exoplanetology
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3526 KV Utrecht
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.