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: 1407287
• 负责人: Erik Shirokoff
• 金额: $ 29.68万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 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 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1407287&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 astronomical research.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.

拼凑现代天文学研究难题所需的许多关键信息都是由人眼不可见的光波长携带的，例如长波长无线电波和非常短波长的紫外线。 建造仪器来观察肉眼无法看到的东西对于科学来说至关重要。 该项目旨在开发对亚毫米范围光谱敏感的仪器，其波长比无线电波短，但比人眼敏感的可见光长。 研究人员确实为自己设定了一个非常雄心勃勃的目标，即在单个芯片上构建一个完整的摄谱仪或探测器系统，能够定量测量亚毫米辐射的波长成分，该芯片采用类似于制造微型电子集成电路的技术制成。在这项工作中，我们使用了经典的低温超导体，配置为辐射热传感器。 特别是，这项研究将利用由氮化钛（TiN）制成的动感电感探测器（KID），这是一种相对成熟的材料系统和探测器设计，需要相对宽松的线路规则。 当设备准备就绪后，它们将被部署到望远镜上的仪器上。 示范观测将针对遥远的尘埃星系。 从长远来看，这里开创的技术将使具有二维光谱仪阵列的整体现场单元仪器成为可能，这是广泛天文研究中的强大工具。作为亚毫米领域令人兴奋的新方向的技术探路者，这些观测结果应该会产生更广泛的影响。仪器仪表。计划中的年轻科学家培训以及高级人员的公共外展活动将有助于向专业人士和公众传达这种兴奋之情。该项目的资金由美国国家科学基金会天文科学部通过其先进技术和仪器提供程序。