Chip-scale Astrocomb for High Precision Spectrograph Calibration

We propose to develop a chip-scale, fully integrated, octave spanning, self-referenced, near-infrared electro-optic modulation (EOM) frequency comb pumped microcomb spanning from 1-2 micron for calibration of high-resolution (R>100,000), fiber-fed, planet-finding astronomical spectrographs. The proposed architecture comprises of nano-scale optical waveguides integrated with microwave electrodes for efficient phase/amplitude modulation to generate an on-chip EOM comb. The device design and fabrication leverage the facilities and experience at Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Micro Devices Laboratory. The proposed concept enables a platform that is amenable to infusion into future flight instruments and autonomous operation. Such a comb could yield a theoretical precision radial velocity (PRV) capability in the sub-cm/s regime that enables detection and observation of Earth-sized planets orbiting sun-like stars. Optical frequency comb (OFC) technology on a small explorer-class spacecraft could help achieve the highest possible Doppler shift measurement precision for radial velocity determination of exoplanetary mass and cosmological expansion, and be a critical pathfinder for either a LUVOIR or HabEx observatory for direct imaging of planets [1]. The EarthFinder NASA Probe Study [2] features OFC technology prominently in the mission instrument concept. Importantly, the recent National Academy of Sciences report on a Strategy for Exoplanet Science highlights the importance of precision wavelength standards for PRV measurements for exoplanet research [3].Our EOM frequency comb generators pass a CW laser through a sequence of discrete phase and amplitude modulators. The generated EOM comb has 5-10 nm of optical bandwidth and takes advantage of a plethora of stand-alone commercial optical components that are readily available at the telecommunication wavelength band. We further broaden the comb after amplification and coupling into a silicon nitride waveguide. Such an EOM comb features remarkable comb power and can support flexible frequency spacing. However, due to the overall instrument size and power consumption, it is limited to implementation in ground-based observatories. Therefore, a low SWAP, self-referenced comb that is capable of autonomous operation under flight conditions will be an enabling technology for future space-based PRV measurements. Our team has demonstrated a broadband 1.5 micron-centered EOM OFC at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and Keck Observatories [4] and a microcomb calibration source at Keck on the NIRPSEC spectrograph [5]. In this effort, we will design and fabricate a nano-photonic integrated circuit based on a thin film photonic platform that features a large second-order nonlinearity. Owing to the large nonlinearity, tight optical confinement and strong microwave and optical field overlap will allow us to demonstrate a more robust and power efficient EOM comb in a much smaller footprint (>1000x size reduction). The EOM comb will further pulse pump a soliton microresonator comb that will result in more efficient and broader spectrum generation. By selecting a platform that possesses both second- and third order nonlinearities such as lithium niobite or aluminum nitride [6, 7], we can monolithically generate a system that can effectively and efficiently pulse pump a Kerr comb [8] spanning an octave with a fraction of the power required for our current astrocomb. [1] Leifer, S., et al., Report to the Keck Institute for Space Studies, (2018). [2] Plavchan, P. et al., arXiv:1803.03960 (2018). [3] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018. Exoplanet Science Strategy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. [4] Yi, X., et al., Nat. Comm., 7, 10436 (2016). [5] Suh, M.-G., et al., Nat. Photon., 13, 25-30 (2019) [6] Zhang, M., et al., arXiv:1809.08636v1 (Sep 2018). [7] Xiong, C., et al., New J. of Phys., 14 (2012). [8] Obrzud, E., et al., arXiv:1612.08993v1 (2016).

The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground-based observing. Basic research proposals in these areas are solicited for investigations that are relevant to NASA's programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including the entire range of photons, gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. The emphasis of this solicitation is on technologies and investigations that advance NASA astrophysics missions and goals.

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