SuperSpec: Development and Characterization of Kinetic Inductance Detector-Based On-Chip Spectrometer for Millimeter and Sub-Millimeter Observations

SuperSpec is an ultra-sensitive, moderate resolution (R ~ 300), on-chip spectrometer for mm and sub-mm wave observations of high redshift dusty galaxies. The device employs a filter-bank architecture in which Titanium Nitride kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) are coupled to mm-wave resonant filters along a single microwave feedline. The detector's small size and and natural multiplexability compared to traditional grating spectrometers will enable future multi-object spectrographic measurements as well as high redshift line intensity mapping observations. This thesis presents the testing and characterization of these detectors, as well as preparations for on-sky deployment. Additionally, we present the progress on improvements to the SuperSpec filter bank technology utilizing thin film aluminum KIDs with a newly designed mm-wave filter bank structure.