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Dragovan, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Dragovan, M..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

CALISTO: A Cryogenic Far-Infrared/Submillimeter Observatory

We present a design for a cryogenically cooled large aperture telescope for far-infrared astronomy in the wavelength range 30 micrometers to 300 micrometers. The Cryogenic Aperture Large Infrared Space Telescope Observatory, or CALISTO, is based on an off-axis Gregorian telescope having a 4 m by 6 m primary reflector. This can be launched using an Atlas V 511, with the only optical deployment required being a simple hinged rotation of the secondary reflector. The off-axis design, which includes a cold stop, offers exceptionally good performance in terms of high efficiency and minimum coupling of radiation incident from angles far off the direction of maximum response. This means that strong astronomical sources, such as the Milky Way and zodiacal dust in the plane of the solar system, add very little to the background. The entire optical system is cooled to 4 K to make its emission less than even this low level of astronomical emission. Assuming that detector technology can be improved to the point where detector noise is less than that of the astronomical background, we anticipate unprecedented low values of system noise equivalent power, in the vicinity of 10(exp -19) WHz(exp -0.5), through CALISTO's operating range. This will enable a variety of new astronomical investigations ranging from studies of objects in the outer solar system to tracing the evolution of galaxies in the universe throughout cosmic time.

Cryogenic Aperture Large Infrared Space Telescope ↗
NASA NTRS2004

WaFIRS, a Waveguide Far-IR Spectrometer: Enabling Space-Borne Spectroscopy of High-z Galaxies in the Far-IR and Submm

The discovery of galaxies beyond z approximately equal to 1 which emit the bulk of their luminosity at long wavelengths has demonstrated the need for high sensitivity, broadband spectroscopy in the far-IR/submm/mm bands. Because many of these sources are not detectable in the optical, long wavelength spectroscopy is key to measuring their redshifts and ISM conditions. The continuum source list will increase in the next decade with new ground-based instruments (SCUBA2, Bolocam, MAMBO) and the surveys of HSO and SIRTF. Yet the planned spectroscopic capabilities lag behind, primarily due to the difficulty in scaling existing IR spectrograph designs to longer wavelengths. To overcome these limitations, we are developing WaFIRS, a novel concept for long-wavelength spectroscopy which utilizes a parallel-plate waveguide and a curved diffraction grating. WaFIRS provides the large (approximately 60%) instantaneous bandwidth and high throughput of a conventional grating system, but offers a dramatic reduction in volume and mass. WaFIRS requires no space overheads for extra optical elements beyond the diffraction grating itself, and is two-dimensional because the propagation is confined between two parallel plates. Thus several modules could be stacked to multiplex either spatially or in different frequency bands. The size and mass savings provide opportunities for spectroscopy from space-borne observatories which would be impractical with conventional spectrographs. With background-limited detectors and a cooled 3.5 telescope, the line sensitivity would be better than that of ALMA, with instantaneous broad-band coverage. We have built and tested a WaFIRS prototype for 1-1.6 mm, and are currently constructing Z-Spec, a 100 mK model to be used as a ground-based lambda/DELTAlambda approximately equal to 350 submillimeter galaxy redshift machine.

Bradford, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Case for Space-Borne Far-Infrared Line Surveys

The combination of sensitive direct detectors and a cooled aperture promises orders of magnitude improvement in the sensitivity and survey time for far-infrared and submillimeter spectroscopy compared to existing or planned capabilities. Continuing advances in direct detector technology enable spectroscopy that approaches the background limit available only from space at these wavelengths. Because the spectral confusion limit is significantly lower than the more familiar spatial confusion limit encountered in imaging applications, spectroscopy can be carried out to comparable depth with a significantly smaller aperture. We are developing a novel waveguide-coupled grating spectrometer that disperses radiation into a wide instantaneous bandwidth with moderate resolution (R ~ 1000) in a compact 2-dimensional format. A line survey instrument coupled to a modest cooled single aperture provides an attractive scientific application for spectroscopy with direct detectors. Using a suite of waveguide spectrometers, we can obtain complete coverage over the entire far-infrared and sub-millimeter. This concept requires no moving parts to modulate the optical signal. Such an instrument would be able to conduct a far-infrared line survey 10 6 times faster than planned capabilities, assuming existing detector technology. However, if historical improvements in bolometer sensitivity continue, so that photon-limited sensitivity is obtained, the integration time can be further reduced by 2 to 4 orders of magnitude, depending on wavelength. The line flux sensitivity would be comparable to ALMA, but at shorter wavelengths and with the continuous coverage needed to extract line fluxes for sources at unknown redshifts. For example, this capability would break the current spectroscopic bottleneck in the study of far-infrared galaxies, the recently discovered, rapidly evolving objects abundant at cosmological distances.

Bock, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Shaping off-axis metallic membrane reflectors using optimal boundary shapes and inelastic strains

This paper will describe a novel concept for constructing off-axis membrane reflector surfaces. Membrane reflectors have been extensively studied, including investigations into inflated lenticular architectures, shaping by spin casting, shaping using electrostatic forces, and shaping by evacuating behind a membrane surface stretched between circular or annular-shaped supports.

membrane↗
NASA NTRS2004

Shaping of parabolic cylindrical membrane reflectors for the Dart Precision Test Bed

The DART is a new telescope architecture consisting of a single aperture formed from two cylindrical parabolic reflectors. The system is ideally suited to using tensioned membranes for the reflective surfaces, owing to the zero Gaussian curvature of a cylindrical parabola. In this paper, we present experimental measurements for shaping the membranes by using curved boundary elements to achieve coarse shaping, and a pair of precision rails shaped by moments and forces at the ends, and lightly pushed into the surface, to provide fine shape control.

telescope↗
NASA NTRS2002

Design and test of a prototype DART system

A 1.2-meter prototype Dual Anamorphic Reflector Telescope (DART) system has been build and tested. The key design feature of the telescope is a pair of membrane mirrors stretched to single curvature parabolic cylindrical sections. The parabolic figure of the mirrors is controlled by a pair of edge rails at two opposing ends of the membrane. The flexible edge rails are adjusted to parabolic to very high accuracy and can potentially be easily refigured on-orbit. The prototype telescope is lightweight and has demonstrated excellent optical performance for the farIR. The design is readily scalable to larger apertures and for operation at shorter wavelengths. Design and test results are discussed.

DART↗
NASA NTRS2000

Space-based Interferometric Telescopes for the Far Infrared

We discuss concepts for deploying direct detection interferometers in space which are optimized for the wavelength range 40 meu to 500 meu. In particular we introduce two missions in NASA's current strategic plan: SPIRIT (SPace InfraRed Interferometric Telescope) and SPECS (Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure).

infrared↗
NASA NTRS1998

Updates on SuZIE and Python

SuZIE and Python are two mature cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy experiments. In this presentation we preview recent oberservations from both experiments.

Cosmology Cosmic Microwave Background: Observation↗
NASA NTRS1994

Anisotropy in the microwave sky at intermediate angular scales

Observations of a low-background region of sky at high Galactic latitude in a frequency band centered at nu = 90 GHz reveal highly significant detections of anisotropy on intermediate (aprroximately 1 deg) angular scales. The instrument is a 2 x 2 array of bolometric detectors operating at 50 mK, coupled to a 0.75 m off-axis parabolic telescope by single-mode corrugated feedhorns. The FWHM beamwidth of the instrument is 0.75 deg, with a beamswitch of +/- 2.75 deg on the sky. Interpreting the detected fluctuations as due to anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background, a likelihood analysis assuming a Gaussian correlation function in the temperature fluctuations yields most likely values of (delta T)/T of 3.1(sub -0.9)(sup +2.5) x 10(exp -5) and 3.8(sub -1.2)(sup +2.9) x 10(exp -5) at a coherence angle of 1.0 deg, for the left- and right-hand detectors, respectively. The stated errors are 95% confidence limits. Confirmation at other frequencies is required to rule out the possibility of foreground contamination.

Dragovan, M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Polarization of far-infrared radiation from molecular clouds

The paper reports measurements of the polarization of far-infrared emission from dust in nine molecular clouds. Detections were obtained in Mon R2, in the Kleinmann-Low (KL) nebula in Orion, and in Sgr A. Upper limits were set for six other clouds. A comparison of the 100 micron polarization of KL with that previously measured at 270 microns provides new evidence that the polarization is due to emission from magnetically aligned dust grains. Comparing the results for Orion with measurements at optical wavelengths, it is inferred that the magnetic field direction in the outer parts of the Orion cloud is the same as that in the dense core. This direction is nearly perpendicular to the ridge of molecular emission and is parallel to both the molecular outflow in KL and the axis of rotation of the cloud core. In Mon R2, the field direction which the measurements imply does not agree withthat derived from 0.9-2.2 micron polarimetry. The discrepancy is attributed to scattering in the near-infrared. In Orion and Sgr A, where comparisons are possible, the measurements are in good agreement with 10 micron polarization measurements.

Novak, G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A CS J = 2 1 survey of the galactic center region

A CS map of the galactic center region is presented consisting of 15,000 spectra covering -1 deg. less than 3. deg. 6 min., -0 deg.4 min. less than b less than 0 deg. 4 min., each having an rms noise of 0.15 K in 1 MHz filters. CS is a high-excitation molecule, meaning that it is excited into emission only when the ambient density is less than n much greater than or approx. 2 x 10 to the 4th power/cu cm CS emission in the inner 2 deg. of the galaxy is nearly as pervasive as CO emission, in stark contrast to the outer galaxy where CS emission is confined to cloud cores. Galactic center clouds are on average much more dense than outer Galaxy clouds. This can be understood as a necessary consequence of the strong tidal stresses in the inner galaxy.

Stark, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Submillimeter polarization in the Orion Nebula

Linear polarization measurements, obtained at 270 microns with the 0.91-m telescope of the NASA Kuyper Airborne Observatory in September 1983 and January and November 1984, are reported for three regions in Ori. The large-scale magnetic field inferred from the measurements is shown to be uniform on the 0.4-pc scale of the beams.

Dragovan, M.↗