TUNA Lunch Talk:

Eric Bryerton

NRAO

A multi-beam 1.2-1.5 THz heterodyne receiver for SOFIA

July 19

12:10PM, Room 230, NRAO, Edgemont Road

Abstract:

Now that SOFIA has begun basic science flights, a call for proposals is being issued by NASA for second-generation instrumentation. In response, we are planning to propose a 8-pixel heterodyne receiver array to cover approximately 1200-1500 GHz. Science drivers for heterodyne arrays in this frequency range include mapping of [NII], H2D+, high-J transitions of CO, and various light hydrides. HEBs (hot electron bolometers) will be used as the heterodyne mixer element and will be a collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), building on their successful astronomical demonstration of a HEB mixer on their small Sairecabur telescope. An overview of the proposed instrument will be shown including current states of development and estimates of final performance. Based on this performance, sensitivity estimates will be given for various types of observations.