Upgrading the field-imaging far-infrared line spectrometer for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) with KIDs: enabling large sample (extragalactic) surveys

Sebastian Colditz; Leslie W. Looney; Frank Bigiel; Christian Fischer; Jacqueline Fischer; Steven Hailey-Dunsheath; Rodrigo Herrera-Camus; Alfred Krabbe; Henry LeDuc; Tony Wong; Jonas Zmuidzinas

doi:10.1117/12.2560120

13 December 2020 Upgrading the field-imaging far-infrared line spectrometer for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) with KIDs: enabling large sample (extragalactic) surveys

Sebastian Colditz, Leslie W. Looney, Frank Bigiel, Christian Fischer, Jacqueline Fischer, Steven Hailey-Dunsheath, Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, Alfred Krabbe, Henry LeDuc, Tony Wong, Jonas Zmuidzinas

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11453, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy X; 1145334 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2560120
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Conference Poster

Abstract

We present the initial design, performance improvements and science opportunities for an upgrade to the Field-Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer (FIFI-LS). FIFI-LS efficiently measures fine structure cooling lines, delivering critical constraints of the interstellar medium and starforming environments. SOFIA provides the only FIR observational capability in the world, making FIFI-LS a workhorse for FIR lines, combining optimal spectral resolution and a wide velocity range. Its continuous coverage from 51-203 microns makes FIFI-LS a versatile tool to investigate a multitude of diagnostic lines within our galaxy and in extragalactic environments. The sensitivity and field-of-view (FOV) of FIFI-LS are limited by its 90s-era photoconductor arrays. These limits can be overcome by upgrading the instrument using the latest developments in Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs). KIDs provide sensitivity gains in excess of 1.4 and allow larger arrays, enabling an increase in pixel count by an order of magnitude. This increase allows a wider FOV and instantaneous velocity coverage. The upgrade provides gains in point source observation speed by a factor <2 and in mapping speed by a factor <3.5, enabled by the improved sensitivity and pixel count. This upgrade has been proposed to NASA in response to the 2018 SOFIA Next Generation Instrumentation call.

Conference Presentation

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Sebastian Colditz, Leslie W. Looney, Frank Bigiel, Christian Fischer, Jacqueline Fischer, Steven Hailey-Dunsheath, Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, Alfred Krabbe, Henry LeDuc, Tony Wong, and Jonas Zmuidzinas "Upgrading the field-imaging far-infrared line spectrometer for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) with KIDs: enabling large sample (extragalactic) surveys", Proc. SPIE 11453, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy X, 1145334 (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2560120

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