Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Alyssa Barlis

Publications and source records attributed to Alyssa Barlis.

16 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2026

Diamond-Loaded Polyimide Aerogel Scattering Filters and Their Applications in Astrophysical and Planetary Science Observations

Infrared-blocking, aerogel-based scattering filters have a broad range of potential applications in astrophysics and planetary science instruments in the far-infrared, sub-millimeter, and microwave regimes. This paper demonstrates the ability of conductively-loaded, polyimide aerogel filters to meet the mechanical and science instrument requirements for several experiments, including the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS), the Experiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM), and the Sub-millimeter Solar Observation Lunar Volatiles Experiment (SSOLVE). Thermal multi-physics simulations of the filters predict their performance when integrated into a cryogenic receiver. Prototype filters have survived cryogenic cycling to 4 K with no degradation in mechanical properties. Measurement of total hemispherical reflectance and transmittance, as well as cryogenic tests of the aerogel filters in a full receiver context, allow estimates of the integrated infrared emissivity of the filters. Knowledge of the emissivity will help instrument designers incorporate the filters into future experiments in planetary science, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Kyle R Helson↗
NASA NTRS2024

Superfluid-Tight Cryogenic Receiver With Continuous Sub-Kelvin Cooling for EXCLAIM

The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a balloon-borne telescope designed to survey star formation over cosmological time scales using intensity mapping in the 420 – 540 GHz frequency range. EXCLAIM uses a fully cryogenic telescope coupled to six on-chip spectrometers featuring kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) to achieve high sensitivity, allowing for fast integration in dark atmospheric windows. The telescope receiver is cooled to ≈ 1.7 K by immersion in a superfluid helium bath and enclosed in a superfluid-tight shell with a meta-material anti-reflection coated silicon window. In addition to the optics and the spectrometer package, the receiver contains the magnetic shielding, the cryogenic segment of the spectrometer readout, and the sub-Kelvin cooling system. A three-stage continuous adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (CADR) keeps the detectors at 100 mK while a 4He sorption cooler provides a 900 mK thermal intercept for mechanical suspensions and coaxial cables. We present the design of the EXCLAIM receiver and report on the flight-like testing of major receiver components, including the superfluid-tight receiver window and the sub-Kelvin coolers.

continuous adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator↗
NASA NTRS2022

Characterization of Aerogel Scattering Filters for Astronomical Telescopes

We have developed a suite of novel infrared-blocking filters made by embedding scattering particles in a polymer aerogel substrate. Our developments allow us to tune the spectral performance of the filters based on both the composition of the base aerogel material and the properties of the scattering particles. Our filters are targeted for use in a variety of applications, from ground-based CMB experiments to planetary science probes. We summarize the formulations we have fabricated and tested to date, including several polyimide base aerogel formulations incorporating a range of size distributions of diamond scattering particles. We also describe the spectral characterization techniques used to measure the filters’ optical properties, including the development o fa mm-wave Fourier transform spectrometer testbed.

aerogel, filter, blocking, scattering, Fourier Tra↗
NASA NTRS2021

Experiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping: Instrument Design

The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a balloon-borne tele-33scope designed to survey star formation in windows from the present to z=3.5. During this time, the rate of star34formation dropped dramatically, while dark matter continued to cluster. EXCLAIM maps the redshifted emission35of singly-ionized carbon lines and carbon monoxide using intensity mapping, which permits a blind and complete36survey of emitting gas through statistics of cumulative brightness fluctuations. EXCLAIM achieves high sensitivity37using a cryogenic telescope coupled to six integrated spectrometers employing kinetic inductance detectors covering38420540GHz with spectral resolving power R=512and angular resolution⇡40. The spectral resolving power and39cryogenic telescope allow the survey to access dark windows in the spectrum of emission from the upper atmosphere.40EXCLAIM will survey305 deg2in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82 field from a conventional balloon flight41in 2023. EXCLAIM will also map several galactic fields to study carbon monoxide and neutral carbon emission as42tracers of molecular gas. Here, we summarize the design phase of the mission.

Eric R Switzer↗
NASA NTRS2020

Optical Design of the EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

This work describes the optical design of the EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping(EXCLAIM). EXCLAIM is a balloon-borne telescope that will measure integrated line emission from carbonmonoxide (CO) at redshiftsz <1 and ionized carbon ([CII]) at redshiftsz= 2.5−3.5 to probe star forma-tion over cosmic time in cross-correlation with galaxy redshift surveys. The EXCLAIM instrument will observeat frequencies of 420–540 GHz using six microfabricated silicon integrated spectrometers with spectral resolv-ing powerR= 512 coupled to kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs). A completely cryogenic telescope cooledto a temperature below 5 K provides low-background observations between narrow atmospheric lines in thestratosphere. Off-axis reflective optics use a 90-cm primary mirror to provide 4.2′full-width at half-maximum(FWHM) resolution at the center of the EXCLAIM band over a field of view of 22.5′. Illumination of the 1.7 Kcold stop combined with blackened baffling at multiple places in the optical system ensures low (<−40 dB) edgeillumination of the primary to minimize spill onto warmer elements at the top of the dewar.

Thomas Essinger-Hileman↗
NASA NTRS2019

Highly Absorptive Pupil Mask Fabricated with Black Silicon

Many of NASA’s direct imaging of exoplanet missions and projects require fabricated coronagraph masks to control scattering and diffraction of light. The designed, patterned mask intended for the coronagraphic testbeds are highly absorptive in the visible range on non-metallic regions. In this work, we employed the cryogenic etching process to fabricate black silicon (BSi) to achieve a high aspect ratio (HAR) structures with higher etch rate than conventional reactive ion etching (REI). Recent bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements of uniformly etched BSi on silicon wafer show highly diffusive BSi with a specular reflective component in the orders of seven magnitudes lower than the total hemispherical reflectance when the polarized or non-polarized incident beam is used.

black-silicon↗
NASA NTRS2019

Highly Absorptive Pupil Mask Fabricated with Black Silicon

Many of NASA’s direct imaging of exoplanet missions and projects require fabricated coronagraph masks to control scattering and diffraction of light. The designed, patterned mask intended for the coronagraphic testbeds are highly absorptive in the visible range on non-metallic regions. In this work, we employed the cryogenic etching process to fabricate black silicon (BSi) to achieve a high aspect ratio (HAR) structures with higher etch rate than conventional reactive ion etching (REI). Recent bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements of uniformly etched BSi on silicon wafer show highly diffusive BSi with a specular reflective component in the orders of seven magnitudes lower than the total hemispherical reflectance when the polarized or non-polarized incident beam is used.

BRDF↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Experiment for Cryogenic Large-aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

Submillimeter and far-IR spectroscopy provides insight into galaxy evolution through measurement of atomic and molecular line emission. The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a cryogenic balloon-borne instrument designed to carry out intensity mapping to measure the cumulative redshifted line emission from carbon monoxide and singly-ionized carbon to probe star formation in windows from the present to z=3.5. During this time, the rate of star formation dropped dramatically, while dark matter continued to cluster. Intensity mapping permits a blind and complete survey of emitting gas through statistics of cumulative brightness fluctuations. EXCLAIM achieves high sensitivity using a cryogenic telescope coupled to six integrated spectrometers with spectral resolving power R=512 and employing microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Here we summarize the status of the mission.

Maryam Rahmani↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Experiment for Cryogenic Large-aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

Submillimeter and far-IR spectroscopy provides insight into galaxy evolution through atomic and molecular line emission. The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a cryogenic balloon-borne instrument designed to carry out an intensity mapping to measure the cumulative redshifted line emission from carbon monoxide and singly-ionized carbon to probe star formation in windows from the present to z=3.5. During this time, the rate of star formation dropped dramatically, while dark matter continued to cluster. Intensity mapping permits a blind and complete survey of emitting gas through statistics of cumulative brightness fluctuations. EXCLAIM achieves high sensitivity using a cryogenic telescope coupled to six integrated spectrometers with spectral resolving power R = 512 and employing kinetic inductance detectors. Here we summarize the status of the mission.

Maryam Rahmani↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Black-silicon as a Wideband Infrared Absorber for the Space Instruments: Fabrication, Modeling, and Characterization

The uniform black silicon (BSI) cryogenically etched has been demonstrated as a superior absorber in par with other ultra-absorbers such as carbon nano tubes in the visible and near-infrared spectrum. In this work, we discuss the fabrication, modeling, and characterization of the BSI aiming at the 2.5-5 microns range. We investigated a series of cryogenic parameters such as temperature, pressure, oxygen flowrate, power, and etching duration and fabricated a series of uniformly etched wafers. Additionally, we established at hree-dimensional mathematical model of a unit cell and manipulated the silicon needle geometry and shape. Our preliminary fabrication results show silicon needles of 8 micron height have five orders of magnitude specular reflectance in the infrared region. The modeling efforts how longer pillar heights could be better absorbers as the wavelength increases.

Wideband absorber↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Experiment for Cryogenic Large-aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

Submillimeter and far-IR spectroscopy provides insight into galaxy evolution through measurement of atomic and molecular line emission. The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a cryogenic balloon-borne instrument designed to carry out intensity mapping to measure the cumulative redshifted line emission from carbon monoxide and singly-ionized carbon to probe star formation in windows from the present to z=3.5. During this time, the rate of star formation dropped dramatically, while dark matter continued to cluster. Intensity mapping permits a blind and complete survey of emitting gas through statistics of cumulative brightness fluctuations. EXCLAIM achieves high sensitivity using a cryogenic telescope coupled to six integrated spectrometers with spectral resolving power R=512 and employing microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Here we summarize the status of the mission.

Maryam Rahmani↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing a New Generation of Integrated Micro-Spec Far Infrared Spectrometers for the EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

The current state of far-infrared astronomy drives the need to develop compact, sensitive spectrometers for future space and ground-based instruments. Here we present details of the µ-Spec spectrometers currently in development for the far-infrared balloon mission EXCLAIM. The spectrometers are designed to cover the 555 – 714 µm range with a resolution of R = λ/∆λ = 512 at the 638 µm band center. The spectrometer design incorporates a Rowland grating spectrometer implemented in a parallel plate waveguide on a low-loss single-crystal Si chip, employing Nb microstrip planar transmission lines and thin-film Al kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs). The EXCLAIM µ-Spec design is an advancement upon a successful R = 64 µ-Spec prototype, and can be considered a sub-mm superconducting photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that combines spectral dispersion and detection. The design operates in a single M=2 grating order, allowing one spectrometer to cover the full EXCLAIM band without requiring a multi-order focal plane. The EXCLAIM instrument will fly six spectrometers, which are fabricated on a single 150 mm diameter Si wafer. Fabrication involves a flip-wafer-bonding process with patterning of the superconducting layers on both sides of the Si dielectric. The spectrometers are designed to operate at 100 mK, and will include 355 Al KID detectors targeting a goal of NEP ∼8 × 10−19 W/√( Hz). We summarize the design, fabrication, and ongoing development of these µ-Spec spectrometers for EXCLAIM.

Carolyn G. Volpert↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Novel Infrared-blocking Aerogel Scattering Filters and Their Applications in Astrophysical and Planetary Science Observations

Infrared-blocking scattering aerogel filters have a broad range of potential applications in astrophysics and planetary science observations in the far-infrared, sub-millimeter, and microwave regimes. Successful dielectric modeling of aerogel filters allowed the fabrication of samples to meet the mechanical and science instrument requirements for several experiments, including the Sub-millimeter Solar Observation Lunar Volatiles Experiment (SSOLVE), the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS), and the Experiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM). Thermal multi-physics simulations of the filters predict their performance when integrated into a cryogenic receiver. Prototype filters have survived cryogenic cycling to 4 K with no degradation in mechanical properties.

Kyle R Helson↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Experiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a high-altitude balloon telescope designed to deepen our understanding of star formation in a cosmological context, shedding light on why the star formation rate declines and breaks away from the cosmological evolution of dark matter for redshifts z>2 [1]. EXCLAIM will operate at 420–540 GHz with a spectral resolution of R=512 to measure the integrated line emission from galaxies and the intergalactic medium (IGM), in particular CO and [CII] line emissions from the nearby universe out to redshifts of z~3.5. This approach is known as Intensity Mapping (IM), which provides efficient access to large cosmological volumes and redshifts with sensitivity limited by detector noise or photon background, while requiring modest apertures. The instrument will employ an array of six superconducting integrated grating-analog spectrometers (µ-Spec) with superconducting microwave kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) in an all-cryogenic telescope (1.7 K) to achieve near background-limited sensitivity. Here, we present an overview of the EXCLAIM instrument and status, with emphasis on the Attitude Determination & Control System (ADCS) and the thermal system.

Giuseppe Cataldo↗