Photometric and Spectroscopic Superconducting Imaging Technology for Astrophysics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
The microwave (3 cm-3 mm), submillimetre-wave (3 mm-300 um) and far-infrared (300 um-20 um) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum contain a wealth of information about the cool, dark Universe. For example, the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation can be found at the longest wavelengths, and thermal radiation from distant, highly redshifted galaxies can be found at the shortest wavelengths. This part of the spectrum also contains thousands of spectral lines from numerous molecular and atomic species, which are important for studying the chemistry and physics of regions where stars and planets are formed. It is exceptionally difficult to carry out astronomy at submillimetre wavelengths because observations must be made from high dry sites or from space. The detection of signals requires large, precision telescopes, and complex instruments must be cooled to temperatures of between 4 K and 100 mK. It is simply not possible to buy suitable cameras and spectrometers, and so astronomers must develop their own imaging technology. The proposed programme aims to develop a new generation of extremely sensitive detectors and receivers for microwave, submillimetre-wave and far-infrared wavelengths by fabricating microcircuits out of materials called superconductors. The superconducting state is a distinct state of matter, which has many curious properties. By fabricating microcircuits from Nb, Ta, Al, Mo, NbN, TiN and NbTiN and by using modern Si and SiN micromachining techniques, it is possible to make complex electronic devices having extraordinary characteristics. For example, some of our infrared detectors are capable of sensing a light bulb being turned on and off for just 1 second at a distance of 10 million miles, whilst others operate in a truly quantum mechanical way, displaying non-classical conversion gain and sensitivities limited by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. The work described in this proposal concentrates on four specific devices: (i) Transition Edge Sensors (TESs), which operate by using the sharp transition of a superconductor, to its normal state, to measure the minute change in temperature that occurs when infrared power is absorbed by a tiny free-standing micro-machined SiN membrane; (ii) Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs), which essentially measure a small change that occurs in the amount by which magnetic field penetrates into the surface of a superconductor when photons are absorbed; (iii) parametric amplifiers, which use the non-linear characteristics of certain superconducting materials to achieve ultra-low-noise amplification; (iv) Superconductor Insulator Superconductor (SIS) mixers, which use extremely thin layers of superconducting and insulating material to create diodes in which quantum mechanical tunnelling occurs, creating highly sensitive radio receivers. Each of these devices can be used singly or packed into arrays of multiple pixels to form cameras. Superconducting mixers require reference sources called local oscillators, which are extremely difficult to realise at THz frequencies. The development of suitable coherent source technology is therefore an essential part of our programme. Another innovative part of our proposed work is to develop microscopically patterned phononic filters that control the flow of heat onto devices, and reduce thermal fluctuation noise, by forming filters that attenuate elastic waves in support structures. The core themes of our proposed research into quantum sensor physics are intrinsically intellectually fruitful, and are of central importance to enabling major areas of astronomy. At the end of the work, we will have demonstrated various new imaging technologies based on advanced superconducting devices, and this technology will then be available to construct the highly sensitive instruments needed for the next generation of ground-based and space-based astronomy.
Planned Impact
We see our role as exploring and understanding the physics of quantum sensors, innovating and developing photometric and spectroscopic imaging technology, and providing the community with ultra-low-noise components in the form of well-characterised subsystems for major projects. In this way we help lever opportunity for the UK in high-profile areas of fundamental science. Our combined track record of project advancement and delivery is excellent. We have contributed significantly to the success of major astronomy infrastructure (JCMT, ALMA, Herschel HIFI, etc.), participated extensively in technical networks (e.g. RadioNet, ESA CTP), and are well connected to many high-profile organisations (SRON, NRAO, ESA, ESO, PTB, VTT, IRAM, NASA-JPL, GSFC, CalTech, CfA, SWRI, PMO). We have instrumentation projects with organisations such as ESO, ESA and the Greenland Telescope. Yassin and Ellison are members of the H2020 RadioNet Board, and Yassin has lead a consortium of European research institutions to develop Supra-THz mixers in task 4 of AETHER project in the FP7 frame. They both participated in the UK-led M5 mission proposal 'FIRSPEX'. Oxford work on the development of THz feed-horns is being exploited worldwide in astronomical receivers and features future generation CMB experiments such as BLASTPol, the spectrograph of SuperSpec and the spectrometer of CCAT X-Spec. Withington worked with SRON, Univ. Cardiff and Airbus (and a consortium of UK universities and international partners) to submit an ESA/UKSA M5 bid for the far-infrared space telescope SPICA. Cambridge's selection by the SPICA project to supply half of the superconducting focal plane technology, with JPL providing the other half, is a measure of our reputation for developing ultra-low-noise imaging technology. Cambridge is also working with SRON and GSFC on understanding the physics of the sensors being developed for the approved X-ray mission ATHENA. In the context of CMB astrophysics, we are supporting Cardiff and Manchester in engaging with the US initiative CMB-S4 and the recently funded Simons Observatory. We also contributed to the recent ESA M5 proposal for a CMB polarization mission CORE. Not only is our work of pivotal importance for astronomy, it is highly intellectually rich in its own right. Since 2010, the Consortium has published well over 200 unique journal and conference papers, many in top-quality journals such as Phys. Rev. A & B, Phys. Rev. Lett., Sup. Sci. Tech., Teraherz Sci. Tech., JOSA: available on www.mrao.cam.ac.uk/projects/cg2017, username `reviewer', password `heaviside'. Additionally, we submitted over 200 technical reports to various astronomy projects. The partner groups provide exceptional training for graduate students in areas such as device and optical physics, materials science and fabrication, cryogenic, microwave and electronic test. Our research not only enables internationally competitive astronomy, but has wider applications in areas such as weather monitoring and forecasting, communications, security surveillance, biological sensing, medical imaging and plasma diagnostics. For example, we worked for a year with British Antarctic Survey to assess the use of our technology in solving key problems in polar atmospheric science. Our work responds to a growing commercial interest in far-infrared laboratory based spectroscopy for industrial process control, non-destructive materials examination and pollution monitoring. As evidenced by Cambridge's success in raising funding for device-processing equipment through an EPSRC Quantum Technologies Call, there are close synergies with the major field of quantum computing and communications. All of these topics have excellent growth potential and, through industrial exploitation, represent opportunities for delivering intellectual status and financial return to the UK. Our many spin-out activities with large and small companies are listed in the Impact document.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Collaboration)
- University of Cologne (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Laboratory for Studies of Radiation and Matter in Astrophysics and Atmospheres (LERMA) (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Ghassan Yassin (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Wenninger J
(2023)
Analytical expressions for the design of twin junction tuning in SIS mixers
in Engineering Research Express
Wenninger J
(2023)
Design of a 240 GHz on-chip dual-polarization receiver for SIS mixer arrays
in Superconductor Science and Technology
Traini A
(2020)
The Influence of LO Power Heating of the Tunnel Junction on the Performance of THz SIS Mixers
in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology
Tan B
(2019)
A New Concept for Multi-Beam Phased Array
Tan B
(2019)
A Slotline DC Block for Microwave, Millimeter, and Submillimeter Circuits
in IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters
Rigopoulou D
(2021)
The far-infrared spectroscopic surveyor (FIRSS)
in Experimental Astronomy
Garrett J
(2019)
A Compact and Easy to Fabricate $E$ -Plane Waveguide Bend
in IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters
Garrett J
(2019)
QMix: A Python package for simulating the quasiparticle tunneling currents in SIS junctions
in Journal of Open Source Software
Garrett J
(2019)
Simulating the Behavior of a 230-GHz SIS Mixer Using Multitone Spectral Domain Analysis
in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology
Garrett J
(2022)
A 230-GHz Endfire SIS Mixer With Near Quantum-Limited Performance
in IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters
Garrett J
(2020)
A Nonlinear Transmission Line Model for Simulating Distributed SIS Frequency Multipliers
in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology
Garrett G.
(2019)
Multi-tone Spectral Domain Analysis of a 230 GHz SIS Device
Description | Successfully develop, design and test a 4-pixel 220GHz SIS mixer array. Successfully develop, design and test a high frequency SIS mixer near 1THz and measure noise performance close to 200K. |
Exploitation Route | The mixer development is useful for many millimetre and sub-millimetre telescope. Our development has push forward the array technology as well as high frequency supra-THz SIS mixers. We are currently working together with colleagues worldwide to develop an array receiver for JCMT, SMA and EHT. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics |
Description | The outcome of the project enables for further funding to assist Thailand to kick-start their involvement in millimetre and sub millimetre technological development, which promote UK as high-tech society, bridging further economic and societal link between UK and Thailand, and helping Thailand to transition her traditional economic society into high-tech society. |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Other |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Broadband Quantum-Limited Parametric Amplifier for Astronomy and Quantum Information Technology |
Amount | € 1,991,678 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 02/2019 |
End | 01/2025 |
Description | New science in Radio Astronomy: applying cutting-edge technology to enhance the entire data chain, from receiver to final output. |
Amount | € 9,999,998 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 101093934 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 03/2027 |
Description | Quantum-Limited Parametric Amplifier for Astronomical Applications |
Amount | € 150,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | Fondation Merac |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Switzerland |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | RadioNet: Advanced Radio Astronomy in Europe |
Amount | € 1,800,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 730562 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2017 |
End | 12/2020 |
Title | Planar DC block |
Description | Invented a new method to provide DC block for high frequency planar circuit |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Used in astronomical detectors. |
Title | Planar microstrip coupler |
Description | Invented a new method to enhance the power coupling of a planar microstrip coupler to simplify the fabrication of astronomical detector circuits |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Used in astronomical detectors. |
Title | Planar signal cross-coupler |
Description | Innovate new method to realise controllable power coupling between two crossing planar transmission lines |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Such cross-coupler has been used in the design of THz quantum mixers, and also resulted in a patent. |
Title | Ultra-broadband dipole antenna |
Description | Invented a new type of dipole antenna that has twice the bandwidth compared to conventional dipole antenna, without complicating the fabrication process. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Used both in academic and commercial applications. |
Description | Development of THz SIS mixers |
Organisation | University of Groningen |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design, tasting and data analysis of THz SIS mixers |
Collaborator Contribution | Supply of SIS devices |
Impact | Conference papers listed in the publication section |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | H2020 RadioNet Cosortium |
Organisation | SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of SIS mixer design and theory at THz frequencies, testing of THz mixer and fabrication of THz feeds and electromagnetic components. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development and fabrication of SIS mixer devices and collaboration on design and testing of single sideband separation mixers. |
Impact | I have received SIS devices from SRON that will be used in a PhD student project. We have fabricated a THz feed that we shipped to SRON. Collaboration has just started so no publication yet. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | H2020 RadioNet Cosortium |
Organisation | University of Cologne |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of SIS mixer design and theory at THz frequencies, testing of THz mixer and fabrication of THz feeds and electromagnetic components. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development and fabrication of SIS mixer devices and collaboration on design and testing of single sideband separation mixers. |
Impact | I have received SIS devices from SRON that will be used in a PhD student project. We have fabricated a THz feed that we shipped to SRON. Collaboration has just started so no publication yet. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Harvard-Smithsonians |
Organisation | Harvard University |
Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | (1) design and fabricate a feed-horn array for millimetre receivers. (2) Design fabricate a 4 element 1.4 THz feed array for an HEB receiver |
Collaborator Contribution | design and fabricate mixer blocks for millimetre and THz receivers |
Impact | development of millimetre mixers arrays and HEB devices. Pay for the cost of arrays fabricated at Oxford. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | LERMA |
Organisation | Laboratory for Studies of Radiation and Matter in Astrophysics and Atmospheres (LERMA) |
Country | France |
Sector | Learned Society |
PI Contribution | Develop mixer arrays at 230 GHz and 700 GHz mixers |
Collaborator Contribution | Fabricate SIS devices for our receivers |
Impact | State of the art SIS mixers, publications, PhD student project |
Start Year | 2014 |
Title | FOUR WAVE MIXING TRANSMISSION LINE |
Description | A four-wave mixing transmission line (3) including: an input (15, 17, 19) arranged to receive: a first pump signal (7a) having a first pump frequency; a second pump signal (7b), having a second pump frequency, different to the first pump frequency; and an input signal to be amplified (5); a non-linear medium (3a) having an intrinsic dispersion relationship, the medium (3a) arranged to allow interaction between the input signal (5), the first pump signal (7a) and the second pump signal (7b), such that the input signal (5) is amplified and an idler signal (9) is generated and amplified; and a plurality of dispersion control elements (31, 33, 49), the dispersion control elements (31, 33, 49) arranged to alter the dispersion relationship of the medium (3a) to diverge from the intrinsic dispersion relationship at one or more frequencies, such that the total phase difference between the input signal, (5) the first pump signal (7a), the second pump signal (7b) and the idler signal (9) is kept at zero or substantially zero as the first pump signal (7a), the second pump signal (7b), the input signal (5) and the idler signal (9) propagate down the transmission line (3). |
IP Reference | US2019074801 |
Protection | Patent / Patent application |
Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Non-degenerated pumps travelling wave parametric amplifiers |
Title | Signal coupler |
Description | New method for controllable power coupling between two crossing planar transmission line |
IP Reference | PCT/G8201 8/050469 |
Protection | Patent / Patent application |
Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Seek for licensing opportunities |
Title | Travelling wave parametric up-converter |
Description | Applying technique used for parametric amplifier to a frequency up-converter |
IP Reference | |
Protection | Patent / Patent application |
Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Seek for opportunities for licensing |
Title | Finsynth |
Description | Software used to design unilateral finline antenna |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2006 |
Impact | Used in mixer design |
Title | Hornsynth |
Description | Software developed to design and optimise multiple flare angle smooth walled horn |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2007 |
Impact | Successfully deployed and fabricate many different smooth walled horns |
Title | Qmix |
Description | Accurate design and analysis of SIS mixer |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Impact | The ability to design coherent SIS mixer detectors for astronomical receivers very accurately. |
URL | https://github.com/garrettj403/QMix |
Description | General Public Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | General Public Outreach |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | General Public Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | General Public Outreach |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | General Public Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | General Public Outreach |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | Support of Thai National Astronomical Research Centre (NARIT) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Help NART to build a laboratory to support Radio-Telescopes |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.narit.or.th/en/ |