The Astrophysics Research Program competitively solicits low TRL (1-3) technology development activities of a more general nature through the Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Program element of ROSES. APRA is intended to support basic research of new technologies and feasibility demonstrations that may enable future science missions. For example, APRA seeks technology development of advanced detectors that may be proposed as instruments for future space flight experiments. APRA also supports suborbital science investigations that typically involve a significant level of technology development.
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"APD","isActive":true,"description":"There are four Program elements within the Astrophysics Division that execute technology development activities: Cosmic Origins (COR), Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS), Exoplanet Exploration (EXEP), and the Astrophysics Research Program. Technology efforts in the Division are procured through both directed and competed processes.
The PCOS, COR, and EXEP programs develop and operate the Division’s strategic science missions. Thus, each of these programs conduct strategic technology development activities to enable future missions and to support early phase mission development. Each has a formal Technology Development Plan to guide its technology development activities, and maintains an annual report that documents the status of currently funded activities. Annual assessments identify future technology development needs based on the science goals of each program.
The PCOS, COR, and EXEP Programs conduct competed technology development efforts through a Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) element known as Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) that specifically targets technology developments that bridge the technology readiness level (TRL) 3-6 gap. SAT developed technologies are essential to enable strategic missions that specifically address the key science goals of the Astrophysics Decadal Survey recommendations. The three SAT elements for PCOS, COR, and EXEP are named Technology Development for Physics of the Cosmos (TPCOS), Technology Development for Cosmic Origins Program (TCOP), and Technology Development for Exo-Planet Missions (TDEM) respectively. In contrast to these competed efforts, each program also conducts directed technology development activities that are carried out as elements of specific strategic science missions during early development phases.
The Astrophysics Research Program competitively solicits low TRL (1-3) technology development activities of a more general nature through the Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Program element of ROSES. APRA is intended to support basic research of new technologies and feasibility demonstrations that may enable future science missions. For example, APRA seeks technology development of advanced detectors that may be proposed as instruments for future space flight experiments. APRA also supports suborbital science investigations that typically involve a significant level of technology development.
","programId":34626,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Astrophysics","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"APD"},"parentProgramId":34626,"programId":93,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4909,"organizationName":"Science Mission Directorate","acronym":"SMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4909,"title":"Astrophysics Research and Analysis","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"APRA"},"acronym":"","description":"We will develop a 500-pixel array of quantum capacitance detectors which have 1) per-pixel noise equivalent power (NEP) below 3e-20 W/sqrt(Hz), 2) high absorption efficiency, and 3) sufficient speed of response to count individual mid-IR through far-IR photons at rates up to 10 kHz. The full array will be read out with a single microwave circuit using a suite of probe tones interacting with resonators. The sensitivity, speed, and MUXing are the key enabling requirements for moderate-resolution (R~500) zodi-limited spectroscopy on future cryogenic far-IR facilities such as the Origins Space Telescope (formerly Far-IR Surveyor) or a far-IR probe-class mission. The photon counting capability offers the potential for enhanced scientific performance for a) high-stability applications such as exoplanet spectroscopy and b) high-resolution direct-detection spectroscopy at the shot-noise limit. Our work builds on the success with few-pixel quantum capacitance demonstrations at 200 microns, but we require a dedicated multi-pixel readout architecture, absorber and backshort geometry adapted to shorter wavelengths (down to 30 microns with a goal of 6 for exoplanet photon counting), and demonstration of high yield (>75%) with an improved tunnel junction design and fabrication approach.
","benefits":"The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground based observing. Basic research proposals in these areas are solicited for investigations that are relevant to NASA's programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including the entire range of photons, gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. The emphasis of this solicitation is on technologies and investigations that advance NASA astrophysics missions and goals.
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