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Published September 2014 | public
Journal Article

Optical Measurements of SuperSpec: A Millimeter-Wave On-Chip Spectrometer

Abstract

SuperSpec is a novel on-chip spectrometer we are developing for (sub)millimeter wavelength astronomy. Our approach utilizes a filterbank of moderate resolution (R∼500) channels, coupled to lumped element kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs), all integrated onto a single silicon chip. The channels are half-wave resonators formed by lithographically depositing segments of superconducting transmission line, and the KIDs are titanium nitride resonators. Here we present optical measurements of a first generation prototype, operating in the 180–280 GHz frequency range. We have used a coherent source to measure the spectral profiles of 17 channels, which achieve linewidths corresponding to quality factors as high as Q__(filt)=700, consistent with the designed values plus additional dissipation characterized by Q_i≈1440. We have also used a Fourier Transform Spectrometer to characterize the spectral purity of all 72 channels on the chip, and measure typical out of band responses ∼30 dB below the peak response.

Additional Information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York. Received: 6 September 2013; accepted: 23 December 2013. Published online: 23 January 2014. This project is supported by NASA Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Grant No. 399131.02.06.03.43. ES, CMM, and LJS acknowledge support from the W. M. Keck Institute for Space Studies. MIH, LJS, and TR acknowledge support from the NASA Postdoctoral Program. PSB acknowledges the continuing support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council Ph.D studentship programme and grant programmes ST/G002711/1 and ST/J001449/1. Device fabrication was performed the JPL Microdevices Laboratory.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
March 5, 2024