KIDSpec: An MKID-Based Medium-Resolution, Integral Field Spectrograph

Abstract

KIDSpec, the Kinetic Inductance Detector Spectrograph, is a concept for a highly sensitive, medium-spectral-resolution optical through near-IR spectrograph. It uses the intrinsic-energy-resolving capability of an array of optical/IR-sensitive MKIDs to distinguish multiple orders from a low-resolution grating. By acting as an 'order resolver,' the MKID array replaces the cross-disperser in an echelle spectrograph. This greatly simplifies the optical layout of the spectrograph and enables longer slits than are possible with cross-dispersed instruments (to improve sky subtraction). KIDSpec would have similar capabilities to ESO's highly successful X-shooter instrument. It would provide an R = 4000-10,000 spectrum covering the optical and near-IR spectral range (0.4-1.5 µm). As well as a 'long-slit' mode, the IFU would provide a small ( ∼ 50 spaxel ) field of view for spatially resolved sources. In addition, the photon-counting operation of MKIDs and their photon-energy-resolving ability enable a read-noise-free spectrum with perfect cosmic ray removal. The spectral resolution would be sufficient to remove the bright night-sky lines without the additional pixel noise, making the instrument more sensitive than an equivalent semiconductor-based instrument. KIDSpec would enhance many existing high-profile science cases, including transient (GRB, SNe, etc.) follow-up, redshift determination of faint objects and transit spectroscopy of exoplanets. In addition, it will enable unique science cases, such as dynamical mass estimates of the compact objects in ultra-compact binaries.

KSIM: simulating KIDSpec, a Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector spectrograph for the optical/NIR

“…Galaxy observations also present opportunities for many different science areas. High redshift star forming galaxies and their emission lines can provide information on the stages of evolution of the universe, such as the epoch of reionisation (Onodera et al 2020). Emission line galaxies at medium to high redshifts can aid in testing the cosmological dark energy model and constrain it (Gao & Jing 2020).…”

What could KIDSpec, a new MKID spectrograph, do on the ELT?

“…MKIDs are an exciting detector in the OPT/NIR due to being free of read noise and dark current counts, energy resolving, time resolving, and photon counting detectors. 6 In particular by using the energy resolving ability of the MKIDs, they can be used as a cross-disperser in a spectrograph, due to them being able to separate the orders falling on a linear array of MKIDs.…”

“…Taking advantage of this will be the Kinetic Inductance Detector Spectrometer (KIDSpec), an upcoming medium spectral resolution OPT/NIR spectrometer. 6 While intended to have similar capabilities to X-Shooter 7 , KIDSpec will instead use MKIDs as its detectors, gaining the benefits described above. The MKIDs function as a resonant circuit made up of a capacitor and inductor.…”

MKID digital readout tuning with deep learning

“…The pixel format of MKIDs in the sub-millimeter and far-infrared are also several kilopixels (Adam et al, 2018) and systems capable of reading out 10 4 pixels have been demonstrated (Baselmans et al, 2017). These large formats make MKIDs a competitive detector technology for high contrast imaging of exoplanets (Meeker et al, 2015), long slit spectroscopy (O'Brien et al, 2014), as well as security and biomedical applications (Jonge et al, 2012).…”