On the development of SuperSpec: a fully integrated on-chip spectrometer for far-infrared astronomy

Barry, Peter 2014. On the development of SuperSpec: a fully integrated on-chip spectrometer for far-infrared astronomy. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

SuperSpec is an innovative, fully planar, compact spectrograph for mm/sub-mm astronomy. Its very small size, wide spectral bandwidth, and highly multiplexed detector readout will enable construction of powerful multi-object spectrometers for observations of galaxies at high redshift. SuperSpec is based on a superconducting filterbank consisting of a series of planar half-wavelength filters to divide up the incoming, broadband radiation. The power in each filter is coupled into a titanium nitride (TiN) lumped element Kinetic Inductance Detector (KID), facilitating the read out of a large number of filter elements with minimal cryogenic electronics. We present electromagnetic simulations of the various components that make up the first generation prototype device. We then present a characterisation of the performance of the TiN detectors and compare these to the standard Mattis-Bardeen prediction. We then demonstrate the operation of the filterbank at 250 GHz through a spectral characterisation made using a Martin-Puplett interferometer measuring a minimum filter bandwidth that corresponds to a spectral resolution of R = 700. From blackbody measurements of the most responsive filter channels, we estimate a system noise equivalent power of 2X10 to power -15 WHz to power -1/2.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Physics and Astronomy
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Kinetic inductance detectors, Resonators, Millimeter/Submillimeter Spectroscopy
Funders:	STFC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	11 Jan 2023 17:09
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/71562

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