Experimental astrophysics · University of Lethbridge
Spencer Lab
Far-infrared and submillimetre instrumentation for astronomy.
We build laboratory interferometers, cryogenic detector systems and analysis tools for far-infrared astronomy, and contribute to design studies for future space observatories.
Contributions to
- Herschel SPIREESA
- SPICEconcept study
- SPIFFfeasibility study
- CCAT Prime-CamFYST
- LIFEmission study
Research
From the laboratory bench to future space observatories
Much of the light emitted by stars and galaxies over cosmic history reaches us at far-infrared wavelengths, which are largely blocked by the atmosphere. Our work prepares the instruments and techniques needed to observe it from space.
-
01
Double-Fourier interferometry
A laboratory testbed that records spectra and high-resolution images together.
-
02
Cryogenic detectors
Arrays of transition-edge sensor bolometers and their temperature control.
-
03
Space interferometer studies
Science cases, design studies and simulation tools for future missions.
-
04
Fourier transform spectroscopy
Calibration and data processing, building on the Herschel/SPIRE spectrometer.
How it works
A spectrum from an interferogram
A Fourier transform spectrometer divides incoming light into two beams and recombines them while a moving mirror changes the difference between their path lengths. The detector records an interferogram, and its Fourier transform is the spectrum of the source.
Broad emission produces the bright central burst near zero path difference, while narrow spectral lines produce oscillations that persist far from the centre. Double-Fourier interferometry adds a second, spatial Fourier relation, which lets one instrument record a spectrum at every point of an image.
I(x) ∝ ∫ B(σ) cos(2πσx) dσ
Drag a spectral line sideways to change its wavenumber. Synthetic data, arbitrary units.
This interactive figure requires JavaScript. A static version is shown as Figure 2 on the Research page.
Heritage
From Herschel to the next far-infrared observatory
The lab’s methods grew out of more than a decade of work on the SPIRE spectrometer of the ESA Herschel Space Observatory, and now feed into studies of far-infrared interferometers in space.
SPIRE photometer
MSc research at the University of Lethbridge characterizes the photometer of SPIRE, one of three science instruments on Herschel.
Herschel launches
Dr. Spencer completes his PhD on the SPIRE imaging Fourier transform spectrometer, then works on its in-flight performance at Cardiff University.
A laboratory in Lethbridge
Return to the University of Lethbridge as Canada Research Chair in Experimental Astrophysics, and construction of a far-infrared double-Fourier testbed.
Towards space interferometry
Four contributions at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, on interferometer design, image reconstruction, detectors and simulation.
Detectors and feasibility
A feedback-controlled TES bolometer array is published in JATIS, and an overview of the SPIFF feasibility study is released.
About the lab
We develop the instruments and techniques that future far-infrared space observatories will rely on.
The Spencer Lab is led by Dr. Locke Spencer in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Lethbridge. Its work grew out of Dr. Spencer’s contributions to the imaging Fourier transform spectrometer of SPIRE on the ESA Herschel Space Observatory.
The lab works closely with the Astronomical Instrumentation Group at the University of Lethbridge and contributes to international studies of far-infrared space interferometers.
Publications
Recent work
Join the lab
Interested in far-infrared instrumentation?
We welcome enquiries from prospective graduate students, undergraduate researchers and postdoctoral fellows. Students from physics, engineering and computing backgrounds are welcome; instrumentation experience is not required.