A high-efficiency transmission-line spectrometer for far-infrared and submillimeter space missions

Paper number

IAC-15,A7,3,3,x31174

Author

Dr. Giuseppe Cataldo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Goddard Space Flight Center, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Emily Barrentine, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Ari Brown, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Goddard Space Flight Center, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Negar Ehsan, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Samuel Harvey Moseley, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Omid Noroozian, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Thomas Stevenson, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Kongpop U-Yen, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Edward J. Wollack, NASA, United States

Year

2015

Abstract

Micro-Spec ($\mu$-Spec) is a direct-detection spectrometer-on-a-chip realized with superconducting microstrip transmission lines. Its operating spectral range is 300-650 GHz (450-1000 $\mu$m), a window of interest for many far-infrared and submillimeter spectroscopic applications in astronomy and Earth science. Due to its compact size (\sim~10~cm$^2$), $\mu$-Spec can enable a wide range of flight missions that are still difficult to realize due to the large size of current spectrometers and the required spectral resolution and sensitivity.

This paper will provide a report on the current status of the instrument development. An overview of the $\mu$-Spec subsystems will illustrate details of each components and their operating principles. Emphasis will be given to the diffractive region and transmission line materials properties. Several optical designs generated for the diffractive region will be presented in terms of geometric layouts, imaging performance, and efficiency for different spectral resolutions. The loss of the dielectrics and superconductors will also be discussed. Finally, test measurement data from the prototype version currently under testing will be shown.

Abstract document

IAC-15,A7,3,3,x31174.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,A7,3,3,x31174.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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