Small size, wide spectral bandwidth, and highly multiplexed detector readout are required to develop powerful multi-beam spectrometers for high-redshift observations. Currently available spectrometers at these frequencies are large and bulky. The grating sizes for these spectrometers are prohibitive. This fundamental size issue is a key limitation for space-based spectrometers for astrophysics applications.
A novel, moderate-resolving-power (R-700), ultra-compact spectrographon- a-chip for millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths is the solution. Its very small size, wide spectral bandwidth, and highly multiplexed detector readout will enable construction of powerful multi-beam spectrometers for high-redshift observations. The octavebandwidth, background-limited performance of this spectrometer is comparable to that of a diffraction grating, but in a photolithographically developed thin-film package. This novel photolithographic on-chip spectrometer camera is compact, delivering 200 to 500 km/s spectral resolution over an octave bandwidth for hundreds of pixels in the telescope’s field of view.
The spectrometer employs a filter bank consisting of planar, lithographed, superconducting transmission line resonators. Each millimeterwave resonator is weakly coupled to both the feedline and to the inductive portion of a lumped-element microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID). Incoming millimeter-wave radiation breaks Cooper pairs in the MKID, modifying its kinetic inductance and resonant frequency, allowing for frequency-multiplexed readout. This is realized using thin-film lithographic structures on a silicon wafer, with titanium nitride MKID resonators.
The ultra-compact superconducting spectrometer approach offers the potential for hundreds of individual spectrometers integrated into a 2D focal plane for future ground- and space-based astrophysics instruments.
This work was done by Goutam Chattopadhyay, Jonas Zmuidzinas, Charles M. Bradford, Henry G. Leduc, Peter K. Day, Loren Swenson, Steven Hailey-Dunsheath, Roger C. O’Brient, Stephen Padin, Erik D. Shirokoff, and Christopher McKenney of Caltech; Theodore Reck of ORAU; Jose V. Siles of Fulbright/JPL; Peter Barry, Simon Doyle, and Philip Mauskopf of Cardiff University; Nuria Llombart of Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Attila Kovacs of the University of Minnesota; and Dan P. Marrone of the University of Arizona for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NPO-48592
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Ultra-Compact, Superconducting Spectrometer-on-a-Chip at Submillimeter Wavelengths
(reference NPO-48592) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) detailing the Ultra-Compact, Superconducting Spectrometer-on-a-Chip designed for submillimeter wavelengths. It is part of the Commercial Technology Program aimed at disseminating aerospace-related developments with potential technological, scientific, or commercial applications.
The document emphasizes the significant advancements in far-infrared (far-IR) and submillimeter detector formats, referencing "Richard's law," which indicates an exponential growth in these technologies. It suggests that if current progress continues, instruments with up to 100,000 pixels could be achievable by the end of the decade, marking a substantial leap in imaging capabilities.
Quantifiable results are highlighted throughout the document, showcasing the design and simulation of the spectrometer chip, as well as a specific 5-pixel design. These advancements are crucial for enhancing the sensitivity and resolution of spectroscopic measurements, which are vital for various scientific investigations, including astrophysics and planetary science.
The document also serves as a resource for those interested in the broader implications of this technology, providing contact information for further inquiries. It encourages collaboration and innovation through the NASA Innovative Partnerships Program, which aims to foster partnerships that can leverage NASA's research and technology for wider applications.
Overall, the Technical Support Package outlines the promising developments in superconducting spectrometer technology, its potential impact on scientific research, and the opportunities for commercial applications, while also providing a framework for future advancements in the field.
