Development of a Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifier and Low-Noise Readout for the Princeton Axion Search

The Princeton aXion Search (PXS) requires phase-insensitive amplifiers operating near the standard quantum limit in the 200-500 MHz frequency range in order to achieve DFSZ sensitivity to QCD axion dark matter. Kinetic inductance traveling wave parametric amplifiers (KI-TWPAs) are able to simultaneously upconvert this signal band into GHz frequencies and provide gain in excess of 20 dB. PXS, in collaboration with JPL, is tailoring KI-TWPA designs for the PXS frequency band. We present gain performance from multiple devices for preliminary KI-TWPA designs, the development of noise temperature measurement capabilities, and auxiliary RF infrastructure that enables volume testing of devices.