TY - GEN
T1 - Large format heterodyne arrays for observing far-infrared lines with SOFIA
AU - Walker, C.
AU - Kulesa, C.
AU - Kloosterman, J.
AU - Lesser, D.
AU - Cottam, T.
AU - Groppi, Christopher
AU - Zmuidzinas, J.
AU - Edgar, M.
AU - Radford, S.
AU - Goldsmith, P.
AU - Langer, W.
AU - Yorke, H.
AU - Kawamura, J.
AU - Mehdi, I.
AU - Hollenbach, D.
AU - Stutzki, J.
AU - Huebers, H.
AU - Gao, J. R.
AU - Martin, C.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - In the wavelength regime between 60 and 300 microns there are a number of atomic and molecular emission lines that are key diagnostic probes of the interstellar medium. These include transitions of [CII], [NII], [OI], HD, H 2D+, OH, CO, and H2O, some of which are among the brightest global and local far-infrared lines in the Galaxy. In Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs), evolved star envelopes, and planetary nebulae, these emission lines can be extended over many arc minutes and possess complicated, often self absorbed, line profiles. High spectral resolution (R> 105) observations of these lines at sub-arcminute angular resolution are crucial to understanding the complicated interplay between the interstellar medium and the stars that form from it. This feedback is central to all theories of galactic evolution. Large format heterodyne array receivers can provide the spectral resolution and spatial coverage to probe these lines over extended regions. The advent of large format (~100 pixel) spectroscopic imaging cameras in the far-infrared (FIR) will fundamentally change the way astronomy is performed in this important wavelength regime. While the possibility of such instruments has been discussed for more than two decades, only recently have advances in mixer and local oscillator technology, device fabrication, micromachining, and digital signal processing made the construction of such instruments tractable. These technologies can be implemented to construct a sensitive, flexible, heterodyne array facility instrument for SOFIA. The instrument concept for StratoSTAR: Stratospheric Submm/THz Array Receiver includes a common user mounting, control system, IF processor, spectrometer, and cryogenic system. The cryogenic system will be designed to accept a frontend insert. The frontend insert and associated local oscillator system/relay optics would be provided by individual user groups and reflect their scientific interests. Rapid technology development in this field makes SOFIA the ideal platform to operate such a modular, continuously evolving instrument.
AB - In the wavelength regime between 60 and 300 microns there are a number of atomic and molecular emission lines that are key diagnostic probes of the interstellar medium. These include transitions of [CII], [NII], [OI], HD, H 2D+, OH, CO, and H2O, some of which are among the brightest global and local far-infrared lines in the Galaxy. In Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs), evolved star envelopes, and planetary nebulae, these emission lines can be extended over many arc minutes and possess complicated, often self absorbed, line profiles. High spectral resolution (R> 105) observations of these lines at sub-arcminute angular resolution are crucial to understanding the complicated interplay between the interstellar medium and the stars that form from it. This feedback is central to all theories of galactic evolution. Large format heterodyne array receivers can provide the spectral resolution and spatial coverage to probe these lines over extended regions. The advent of large format (~100 pixel) spectroscopic imaging cameras in the far-infrared (FIR) will fundamentally change the way astronomy is performed in this important wavelength regime. While the possibility of such instruments has been discussed for more than two decades, only recently have advances in mixer and local oscillator technology, device fabrication, micromachining, and digital signal processing made the construction of such instruments tractable. These technologies can be implemented to construct a sensitive, flexible, heterodyne array facility instrument for SOFIA. The instrument concept for StratoSTAR: Stratospheric Submm/THz Array Receiver includes a common user mounting, control system, IF processor, spectrometer, and cryogenic system. The cryogenic system will be designed to accept a frontend insert. The frontend insert and associated local oscillator system/relay optics would be provided by individual user groups and reflect their scientific interests. Rapid technology development in this field makes SOFIA the ideal platform to operate such a modular, continuously evolving instrument.
KW - SOFIA
KW - TeraHertz
KW - array receiver
KW - heterodyne
KW - submillimeter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956203747&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956203747&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.857811
DO - 10.1117/12.857811
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77956203747
SN - 9780819482310
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V
T2 - Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V
Y2 - 29 June 2010 through 2 July 2010
ER -