Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
May 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011aas...21840604k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #218, #406.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011
Physics
Optics
Scientific paper
The detection of Earth-like exoplanets with the radial velocity method requires extreme Doppler precision and long-term stability in order to measure tiny reflex velocities in the host star. Recent planet searches have led to the detection of so called "super-Earths” (up to a few Earth masses) that induce radial velocity changes of about 1 m/s. However, the detection of true Earth analogs requires a precision of 10 cm/s. One of the largest factors limiting Doppler precision is variation in the Point Spread Function (PSF) from observation to observation due to changes in the illumination of the slit and spectrograph optics. Thus, this stability has become a focus of current instrumentation work. Fiber optics have been used since the 1980's to couple telescopes to high-precision spectrographs, initially for simpler mechanical design and control. However, fiber optics are also naturally efficient scramblers. Scrambling refers to a fiber's ability to produce an output beam independent of input. Our research is focused on characterizing the scrambling properties of several types of fibers, including circular, square and octagonal fibers. By measuring the intensity distribution after the fiber as a function of input beam position, we can simulate guiding errors that occur at an observatory. Through this, we can determine which fibers produce the most uniform outputs for the severest guiding errors, improving the PSF and allowing sub-m/s precision. However, extensive testing of fibers of supposedly identical core diameter, length and shape from the same manufacturer has revealed the "personality” of individual fibers. Personality describes differing intensity patterns for supposedly duplicate fibers illuminated identically. Here, we present our results on scrambling characterization as a function of fiber type, while studying individual fiber personality.
Fischer Debra
Kaplan Zachary
Spronck Julien F. P.
No associations
LandOfFree
Fiber Scrambling for High Precision Spectrographs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Fiber Scrambling for High Precision Spectrographs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fiber Scrambling for High Precision Spectrographs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1743112