SOFIA Instrument Workshop II Summary · 2020. 7. 30. · SOFIA Instrumentation Workshop II July 27, 2020 Main Workshop Themes -II • Building on what we already have – Looney–

SOFIA Instrumentation Workshop II July 27, 2020

SOFIA Instrument Workshop IISummary

Erick YoungUSRA, Principal Scientist, Astronomy

Former SMO Director


Main Workshop Themes• Detectors

– Direct Detection• Hailey-Dunsheath – KIDs

– Kilopixel arrays are being built– Yields are good for fabrication but tuning of pixels still a challenge

• Staguhn – TES Bolometers– Well demonstrated technology– MUX development a challenge

• Pipher – HgCdTe Mid IR Arrays– HgCdTe demonstrated to 16.7 µm by Teledyne– No good solutions to 28 – 50 µm regime, although reviving Si:Sb BIB detectors

are a possibility if SPICA support materializes• Glenn – Mid IR KIDs

– Working on pushing to shorter wavelengths

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Growth in Astronomical Sensors

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Large MKID Arrays are Flying

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Main Workshop Themes• Detectors

– Heterodyne• Goldsmith, Graf, Walker – Heterodyne Arrays

– Significant advances in key components» Multi-pixel mixers» LO Sources» Spectrometers

• Lara-Avila – Graphene Mixers– Interesting technology amenable to making arrays– Potentially lower noise than HEBs

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Sub-mm Components

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CSO Mixer @ 492GHz(1990)

4 pixel AST/RO array @ 810GHz (2000)

SuperCam 8x8 Array @ 350 GHz

(2010)

SHARP Prototype: 2 THz Stacked Linear Arrays

100mm30mm

4.7 THz QCL Local Oscilliator (MIT)

Widely tunable LO Source (J. Siles, JPL)


Epitaxial Growth of Graphene on SiC

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Main Workshop Themes - II• Building on what we already have

– Kutyrev – HIRMES• Fulfills key SOFIA science needs• Much of instrument is in very good shape• Detectors are the tall pole in realizing HIRMES

– Smith – SOFIA Common Dewar• Goal is to simplify qualification process for new instrument

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HIRMES

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SOFIA Common Dewar

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Main Workshop Themes - II• Building on what we already have

– Looney – FIFI-LS• Replace detectors with 77x44 pixel KID arrays• Major cryogenic complication: 1.8 K → less than 250 mK

– Dowell – HAWC• Room for significant increase in mapping capability• Dual polarization KID arrays possibility (for example, BLAST-TNG)

– Person – FPI+• Occultations are a unique SOFIA capability – potentially 100’s of targets in

next 5 years• Add IR channel to existing FPI+ using commercially available camera• GAIA and soon LSST should greatly reduce astrometry complications

– Klein – GREAT• Most promising upgrade would be second 7-pixel array for HFA• Mass, power, and volume constraints in current instrument limit other

possible upgrades

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SOFIA Instrumentation Workshop II July 27, 2020 12


Main Workshop Themes - III• New Instrument Concepts

– Packham – SOFIA Mid-IR Polarimeter• Good synergy with polarization capabilities on HAWC+• Detectors are the main concern

– Richter – Immersion Grating Spectrograph Concept• Full coverage 3 – 8 µm with R~25,000 (red) and ~40,000 (blue)• Immersion gratings would reduce size of spectrometer by 4X

– Goyette – Sub-mm Spectrometer for 500-600 GHz• Current technology could provide 50 K Tn or ~3x better than 4GREAT

– Goldsmith, Graf, Walker, Klein – Large Heterodyne Instrument• Very large arrays are technically possible now

– Time and $$$$– Formats as large as ~128 pixels (Goldsmith, Graf) to 103 (Walker)

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Immersion Grating Spectrometer

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15’’ pixels

[CII]

[OI]SOFIA Focal Plane~8 arcminutes

Lots of Room for Growth on SOFIA


100+ Pixel Array

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Main Workshop Themes IV• How can we make it happen?

– Jackson – SOFIA Roadmap• Desirable to have regular instrument calls• Instruments need to be community and science based

– Knezek – Funding Opportunities• NASA HQ wants to know what the community thinks is most important

and will try to work to make it happen.– Greenhouse – Strategy for Roadmap

• Should gear SOFIA program to Legacy programs (up to 95%)• Consider using Pioneer Program for solicitation of new instruments

– $20M cost cap– 7120.8 management structure

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Possible Timeline

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Jackson, Option 1


My Takeaways• Need to support detector development

– Only astrophysics will support progress in Far IR and sub-mm sensors

• Many opportunities in enhancing scientific productivity ofSOFIA– But somehow, we need to take advantage of the fact the SOFIA

returns every night• Relaxed reliability, documentation, and qualification requirements

• People need realism in instrumentation development times– Even ”simple” instrument upgrades can take 1-2 years– New instruments will need 5+ years

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SOFIA Instrument Workshop II Summary · 2020. 7. 30. · SOFIA Instrumentation Workshop II July 27, 2020 Main Workshop Themes -II • Building on what we already have – Looney–