HAWC: a far-infrared camera for SOFIA

Harper, D. A.; Allen, Christine A.; Amato, M.; Ames, Troy; Bartels, A.; Casey, S. C.; Derro, Rebecca J.; Evans, R.; Gatley, I.; Heimsath, S.; Hermida, Alfonso; Jhabvala, M.; Kastner, Joel H.; Loewenstein, R. F.; Moseley, S. H.; Pernic, R.; Rennick, Timothy S.; Rhody, Harvey; Sandford, Dale; Shafer, R. A.; Shirron, Peter; Voellmer, George M.; Wang, Shu-i; Wirth, J.

doi:10.1117/12.317251

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…9 The optical efficiency of the instrument and the absorption efficiency of the detectors are the same for all options. 10 There is no stray light or out-of-band radiation. 11 Observing overheads are negligible or equivalent for the different options.…”

Section: Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative performance of filled and feedhorn-coupled focal-plane architectures

Griffin¹,

Bock²,

Gear³

2002

Appl. Opt.

110

103

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Modern far infrared and submillimeter instruments require large format arrays. We consider the relative performance of filled array (bare pixel) and feedhorn-coupled architectures for bolometer focal planes. Based on typical array parameters, we quantify the relative observing speeds and comment on the merits of the different architectures.Filled arrays can provide higher mapping speed (by a factor of up to 3.6) and simpler observing modes at the expense of reduced sensitivity for pointed observations, increased detector numbers, and greater vulnerability to stray light and electromagnetic interference.Taking advantage of the filled array architecture requires strongly background limited detectors. At millimeter wavelengths, filled arrays must be surrounded by a sufficiently cold enclosure to minimize the background power from the instrument itself.2

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Section: Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative performance of filled and feedhorn-coupled focal-plane architectures

Griffin¹,

Bock²,

Gear³

2002

Appl. Opt.

110

103

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“…Both a far-infrared (Hale) 16 and mid-infrared 17 polarimeter have been proposed as future SOFIA instruments. Here we discuss three options for upgrading the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera (HAWC) 18 to a sensitive FIR polarimeter.…”

Section: 14mentioning

confidence: 99%

Far-infrared polarimetry from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

et al. 2007

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Multi-wavelength imaging polarimetry at far-infrared wavelengths has proven to be an excellent tool for studying the physical properties of dust, molecular clouds, and magnetic fields in the interstellar medium. Although these wavelengths are only observable from airborne or space-based platforms, no first-generation instrument for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is presently designed with polarimetric capabilities. We study several options for upgrading the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera (HAWC) to a sensitive FIR polarimeter. HAWC is a 12 × 32 pixel bolometer camera designed to cover the 53 -215 µm spectral range in 4 colors, all at diffraction-limited resolution (5 -21 arcsec). Upgrade options include: (1) an external set of optics which modulates the polarization state of the incoming radiation before entering the cryostat window; (2) internal polarizing optics; and (3) a replacement of the current detector array with two state-of-the-art superconducting bolometer arrays, an upgrade of the HAWC camera as well as polarimeter. We discuss a range of science studies which will be possible with these upgrades including magnetic fields in star-forming regions and galaxies and the wavelength-dependence of polarization.

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“…Therefore, the versatility of these detectors depends upon the capability to tailor the radiative coupling strategy to the wavelength of interest. For example, in the submillimeter, control of stray light can be accomplished by broadband lossy structures that are several wavelengths thick [2]. Using the same pixel pitch in the millimeter does not allow such an implementation due to practical physical working volumes limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Innovative architectures have led to the production of arrays of semiconducting bolometers having hundreds of detectors [1,2]. More recently, advances in transition edge sensors (TES) and corresponding multiplexing technology are enabling a new generation of kilopixel bolometer arrays [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compact radiative control structures for millimeter astronomy

et al. 2010

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We have designed, fabricated, and tested compact radiative control structures, including antireflection coatings and resonant absorbers, for millimeter through submillimeter wave astronomy. The antireflection coatings consist of micromachined single crystal silicon dielectric sub-wavelength honeycombs. The effective dielectric constant of the structures is set by the honeycomb cell geometry. The resonant absorbers consist of pieces of solid single crystal silicon substrate and thin phosphorus implanted regions whose sheet resistance is tailored to maximize absorption by the structure. We present an implantation model that can be used to predict the ion energy and dose required for obtaining a target implant layer sheet resistance. A neutral density filter, a hybrid of a silicon dielectric honeycomb with an implanted region, has also been fabricated with this basic approach. These radiative control strictures are scalable and compatible for use large focal plane detector arrays.

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HAWC: a far-infrared camera for SOFIA

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

Relative performance of filled and feedhorn-coupled focal-plane architectures

Relative performance of filled and feedhorn-coupled focal-plane architectures

Far-infrared polarimetry from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

Compact radiative control structures for millimeter astronomy

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