Collaborative Research: Demonstration of Superspec: a Superconducting On-Chip Spectrometer for mm and submm Wavelength Astrophysics

合作研究：Superspec 演示：用于毫米和亚毫米波长天体物理学的超导片上光谱仪

• 批准号: 1407621
• 负责人: Philip Mauskopf
• 金额: $ 25.52万
• 依托单位: Arizona State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-08-15 至 2017-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1407621&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Demonstration; Superspec; Superconducting

Much of the critical information needed to piece together the puzzles of modern astronomy research is carried by wavelengths of light invisible to the human eye, such as the long wavelength radio waves and the very short wavelength ultraviolet. Building instrumentation to see what the human eye cannot is essential to science. This project aims to develop instruments sensitive to the submillimeter range of the light spectrum, shorter in wavelength than radio waves, but longer than the optical light to which the human eye is sensitive. The investigators indeed set themselves the very ambitious goal of building a complete spectrograph, or detector system, capable of quantitatively measuring wavelength components of submillimeter radiation, on a single chip made by techniques similar to those used to make microscopic electronic integrated circuits.The detectors used in this effort are classic, low-temperature superconductors, configured as bolometric sensors. In particular, this investigation will make use of Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs) made of titanium nitride (TiN), a relatively mature material system and detector design that calls for relatively relaxed line rules. When devices are ready, they will be deployed on an instrument taken to a telescope. Demonstration observations will target distant dusty galaxies. Longer term, the technology to be pioneered here will enable Integral Field Unit instrumentation featuring 2D arrays of spectrometers, a powerful tool in a broad range of astronomy.These observations should have substantial broader impacts as a technology pathfinder in an exciting new direction in submillimeter instrumentation. The planned training of younger scientists, and the public outreach activities of the senior personnel, will help to communicate this excitement to the profession and the general public.Funding for this project is being provided by NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences through its Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation program.

现代天文学研究所需的大部分关键信息都是由人眼不可见的光波携带的，例如长波无线电波和短波紫外线。 建造仪器来观察人眼看不到的东西对科学至关重要。 该项目旨在开发对光谱的亚毫米范围敏感的仪器，波长比无线电波短，但比人眼敏感的可见光长。 研究人员确实给自己设定了一个非常雄心勃勃的目标，即在一个芯片上建造一个完整的光谱仪或探测器系统，能够定量测量亚毫米波辐射的波长分量，该芯片采用类似于制造微观电子集成电路的技术制造，在这项工作中使用的探测器是经典的低温超导体，配置为热辐射传感器。 特别是，这项研究将利用由氮化钛（TiN）制成的动态电感探测器（KID），这是一种相对成熟的材料系统和探测器设计，要求相对宽松的线规则。 当设备准备就绪时，它们将被部署在望远镜上的仪器上。 演示观测将针对遥远的尘埃星系。 从长远来看，这里率先推出的技术将使积分场单元仪器具有二维光谱仪阵列，这是广泛天文学领域的强大工具。这些观测应该具有更广泛的影响，作为亚毫米仪器令人兴奋的新方向的技术开拓者。计划中的年轻科学家培训和高级人员的公共宣传活动将有助于向专业人员和公众传达这种兴奋。该项目的资金由NSF天文科学部通过其先进技术和仪器计划提供。