17–21 Mar 2019
Sunstar Hotel, Grindelwald, Switzerland
Europe/Zurich timezone

FIOS: A Fabry Perot Instrument for O2 Searches

19 Mar 2019, 17:30
15m
Sunstar Hotel, Grindelwald, Switzerland

Sunstar Hotel, Grindelwald, Switzerland

Dorfstrasse 168, 3818 Grindelwald Switzerland

Speaker

Dr Sagi Ben-Ami (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)

Description

With new missions and surveys such as TESS and SPECULOUS, the discovery of the first transiting, potentially earth-like planets is just around the corner. Once discovered, those planets will immediately become the focus of observations in search of atmospheric biomarkers such as H2O, CH4, O3, and O2. Recent studies suggest the latter will be best detected from the ground. Here we present a study of technical and observational parameters which will produce the most sensitive observations of O2 using instrumentation on the next generation of extremely large telescopes (ELTs). Our study suggests spectral resolution in excess of R~100,000 is optimal for O2 detection. Therefore, we have developed a concept instrument based on an array of Fabry Perot Interferometers capable of achieving spectral resolutions in excess of R~100,000 on ELTs. Despite its high spectral resolution, the concept instrument has modest dimensions, and allows high throughput. We discuss simulations results, suggesting that such an instrument can reduce the number of observed transits needed for molecular oxygen detection by 30% and more. Finally, we discuss design parameters and the unique aspects that need to be taken into account in the design of such an instrument, and present initial data from a lab pathfinder demonstrating its capabilities.

Primary author

Dr Sagi Ben-Ami (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)

Co-authors

Dr Mercedes Lopez-Morales (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Dr Gonzalo Gonzalez Abad (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Mrs Surangkhana Rukdee (Harvard University) Dr Andrew Szentgyorgyi (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)

Presentation materials

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