Journal Article

First light demonstration of the integrated superconducting spectrometer

Chin Kah Wuy, Oshima Tai, van der Werf Paul P, Yoshimura Yuki, Soh, Ikarashi, Naruse Masato, Bakx Tom J L C, Huiting, Robert, Kouchi Akira, Bueno, Juan, de Visser Pieter J, Yates, Stephen J, Ueda Tetsutaro, Tsukagoshi Takashi, Karatsu Kenichi, Kawabe Ryohei, Thoen, David J, Yurduseven Ozan, Murugesan Vignesh, Ishida Tsuyoshi, Baselmans Jochem J A, Fujita Kazuyuki, Suzuki, Junya, Ishii Shun, Endo Akira, Kohno Kotaro, Llombart Nuria, Asayama Shin’ichiro, Klapwijk, Teun M, Taniguchi Akio, Takekoshi Tatsuya, Fujii Yasunori, Pascual Laguna Alejandro, Tamura Yoichi, Suzuki Koyo, Ohtawara Kazushige, Nakatsubo Shunichi, Bosma Sjoerd, Maekawa, Jun

2019

Overview

Ultra-wideband, three-dimensional (3D) imaging spectrometry in the millimeter–submillimeter (mm–submm) band is an essential tool for uncovering the dust-enshrouded portion of the cosmic history of star formation and galaxy evolution1–3. However, it is challenging to scale up conventional coherent heterodyne receivers4 or free-space diffraction techniques5 to sufficient bandwidths (≥1 octave) and numbers of spatial pixels2,3 (>102). Here, we present the design and astronomical spectra of an intrinsically scalable, integrated superconducting spectrometer6, which covers 332–377 GHz with a spectral resolution of F/ΔF ~ 380. It combines the multiplexing advantage of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs)7 with planar superconducting filters for dispersing the signal in a single, small superconducting integrated circuit. We demonstrate the two key applications for an instrument of this type: as an efficient redshift machine and as a fast multi-line spectral mapper of extended areas. The line detection sensitivity is in excellent agreement with the instrument design and laboratory performance, reaching the atmospheric foreground photon noise limit on-sky. The design can be scaled to bandwidths in excess of an octave, spectral resolution up to a few thousand and frequencies up to ~1.1 THz. The miniature chip footprint of a few cm2 allows for compact multi-pixel spectral imagers, which would enable spectroscopic direct imaging and large-volume spectroscopic surveys that are several orders of magnitude faster than what is currently possible1–3.By using a superconducting integrated circuit to filter incoming millimetre, submillimetre and far-infrared light from distant galaxies, a prototype spectrometer holds promise for wideband spectrometers that are small, sensitive and scalable to wideband spectroscopic imagers.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Design / Integrated circuits / Spectrometers / Spectrometry / Star & galaxy formation