Sub-Microarcsecond Astrometry with SIM-Lite: A Testbed-based Performance Assessment
Abstract
SIM-Lite is an astrometric interferometer being designed for sub-microarcsecond astrometry, with a wide range of applications from searches for Earth-analogs to determining the distribution of dark matter. SIM-Lite measurements can be limited by random and systematic errors, as well as astrophysical noise. In this paper we focus on instrument systematic errors and report results from SIM-Lite’s interferometer testbed. We find that, for narrow-angle astrometry such as used for planet finding, the end-of-mission noise floor for SIM-Lite is below 0.035 μas.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Pub Date:
- January 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1086/596661
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0812.1530
- Bibcode:
- 2009PASP..121...41S
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 5 figures