Research

IMS’s scientific mission is focused on developing advanced quantum detector systems based on superconducting quantum sensor technology, offering time and energy resolution far beyond the limits of classical electronics. Our vision is to establish innovative systems as universal tools in the natural sciences, life sciences, and industry, thereby making a meaningful contribution to addressing current and future challenges in research and technological applications.

IMS participates in both, traditional university and program-oriented top-level research, the latter within the large-scale research activities funded by the Helmholtz Association. The latter particularly includes the realization and operation of the Competence Center for High-resolution Superconducting Sensors (HSS), a unique competence center for producing and characterizing High-resolution Superconducting Sensors, presently being finalized and commissioned at KIT. HSS addresses the ever-increasing demand for large-scale cryogenic sensor systems, making HSS a key factor in bringing these detector systems to the next level of technological readiness. It will provide production and characterization capabilities for superconducting detector systems with thousands and millions of individual sensors.

Presently, our research activities are related to the development of (i) a large-area and ultra-high resolution quantum sensor array for a next-generation tritium-based neutrino mass measurement (KATRIN++), (ii) large-area cryogenic microcalorimeters (LAMCALs) for the Direct Search experiment for Light Dark Matter with Superfluid Helium (DELight), (iii) a high-resolution magnetic microcalorimeter array for X-ray spectroscopy at synchrotron light sources, (iv) a magnetic microbolometer (MMB) array for studying the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background, as well as (v) magnetic microcalorimeters tailored for radionuclide metrology.