Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005stt..conf..427w&link_type=abstract
Sixteenth International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology, held May 2-4, 2005 at Chalmers University of Technology. Göte
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We report on the development of SuperCam, a 64 pixel, superheterodyne camera designed for operation in the astrophysically important 870 μm atmospheric window. SuperCam will be used to answer fundamental questions about the physics and chemistry of molecular clouds in the Galaxy and their direct relation to star and planet formation. The advent of such a system will provide an order of magnitude increase in mapping speed over what is now available and revolutionize how observational astronomy is performed in this important wavelength regime. Unlike the situation with bolometric detectors, heterodyne receiver systems are coherent, retaining information about both the amplitude and phase of the incident photon stream. From this information a high resolution spectrum of the incident light can be obtained without multiplexing. Indeed, each SuperCam pixel will provide 1,024 simultaneous spectral measurements. In terms of raw power, each observation made with SuperCam will provide 65,536 independent measurements of the properties of the object under study. High resolution spectroscopy can, in principle, be performed in this same wavelength regime using incoherent detectors together with frequency dispersive quasi-optical devices such as gratings and Fabry-Perot interferometers. However, the size requirement of quasi-optical devices and/or the need to scan in order to construct a spectrum make them too cumbersome or insensitive for the scientific objectives of the proposed study.
Bussmann Shane
Gensheimer Paul
Golish Dathon
Groppi Christopher
Hedden Abby
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