Demonstration of a high-resolution virtually imaged phased array in the far-infrared

Applied Optics, vol. 64, pp. 3071

Abstract

We present, to our knowledge, the first measurement of the spectral performance of a compact, cryogenically cooled, silicon-based virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) at far-infrared wavelengths. Our cryogenic (4 K) characterization, performed in-house using a quantum-cascade laser (115.7 µm) and a pyroelectric detector, resulted in a spectral resolution of approximately R ∼16,300. A far-infrared VIPA is compact, has no moving parts, and delivers an instantaneous multi-element spectrum dispersed in exit angle so that it can be recorded with a detector array. It, therefore, has the potential to be a transformative technology for balloon- and space-borne velocity-resolved astrophysics investigations in the far-infrared.

Authors 11

1. Bugao Zou
2. Thomas Nikola

   Cornell University

   Affiliation as printed

   Cornell University

3. Gordon J. Stacey

   Cornell University

   Affiliation as printed

   Cornell University

4. Nicholas F. Cothard

   Goddard Space Flight Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

5. Alexander S. Kutyrev

   Goddard Space Flight Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

6. Karwan Rostem

   Goddard Space Flight Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

7. Edward J. Wollack

   Goddard Space Flight Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

8. Jake Connors

   Goddard Space Flight Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

9. Willem Jellema Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

10. Tsung-Yu Kao
    Affiliation as printed

    LongWave Photonics

11. Alan Lee
    Affiliation as printed

    LongWave Photonics