Compact submillimeter-wave multi-pixel local oscillator sources

Many key tracers of the interstellar medium and the process of star formation in the submillimeter region, such as C+, N+, CO, and H₂O have been successfully observed with the Herschel HIFI instrument. HIFI also confirmed the dusty and filamentary nature of the universe with many unanswered questions regarding star formation. While HIFI was a single pixel system, the goal now is to develop and demonstrate focal plane arrays that can image extended sources in a reasonable observation time frame. This will provide a major enhancement of capability for high spectral resolution imaging of submillimeter lines with SOFIA and future suborbital and space platforms.