High Resolution Terahertz Spectroscopy Circumventing the Quantum Limit

Under this Center Innovation Fund (CIF) research effort, a Goddard team is advancing a high-resolution terahertz spectrometer that employs direct photon-counting detectors and superconducting resonators, which would be significantly more sensitive than current instruments. Both astrophysics and planetary would benefit from the instrument's development. With CIF resources, the team designed and fabricated a microwave circuit and integrated a resonator-scanning mechanism with a low-sensitivity microwave kinetic inductance detector.

The completed design and fabrication will allow the team to advance the technology so that Goddard could propose it in a future announcement of opportunity for instruments needed by the Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics. It also would be ideal for such future missions as the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) and the Submillimeter Probe of Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS). In addition, the team believes it would be a viable contender for future calls for new spectrometers.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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