Studying Reionization Epoch Superconducting -Chip Spectroscopy

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0232-NPP-NOV
26-JPL-Astrophys

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Astrophysics

Matt Bradford (matt.bradforda.gov, )

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly‑talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or an affiliated research institute. These one‑to‑three‑year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

We are developing instruments for line intensity mapping in the far‑infrared through the millimeter waveband to study the Reionization epoch. This technique measures all light emitted in a given epoch, providing constraints on star formation activity and insights into stellar populations and early black holes. We have pioneered a superconducting integrated circuit spectrometer, Super Spec, and are currently conducting a demonstration campaign with six Super Spec spectrometer chips at the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT).

A larger, dedicated instrument for intensity mapping is planned for a low‑background terrestrial site.

• Participate in LMT campaigns and support instrument operation and data reduction.
• Build on the Super Spec architecture to develop the next‑generation focal plane, expanding the spectrometer array to ~100 or more pixels.
• Lead a collaboration to field and use the new instrument, contributing to its design, deployment, and scientific exploitation.
• Optionally contribute to the development of ultra‑sensitive far‑infrared detectors for space‑borne platforms.
• Integrate and field the Terahertz Intensity Mapper (TIM) balloon‑borne spectrometer, if desired.

• Doctoral Degree.