An Ultra-Stable Mid-Infrared Detector for the Detection of Bio-Signatures by Means of Exo-Planet Transit Spectroscopy
Abstract
Future space missions such as Origins Space Telescope (OST) will be the instrument of choice to detect these bio-signatures in exoplanets around M-dwarfs by means of Mid_IR Transit Spectroscopy. However, current mid-IR detectors have significant problems with stability. As a result, those detectors are not expected to provide the required stability of ~5 ppm needed for a reliable detection of the spectral lines from the most important atmospheric tracers for biological activiaty on the planet. Here we describe the science enabled, as well as the development of an ultra-stable Mid-IR Array Spectrometer demonstration for Exoplanet Transits, which includes a calibration system that, as we show, is needed to achieve the required sensitivity for the detection of atmospheric bio-signatures in habitable-zone planets around M-dwarfs. The spectrometer will be demonstrated with arrays of Transition Edge Sensor detectors (TES). These devices are known to be intrinsically very stable and the required detector parameters (sensitivity, dynamic range) for space based mid-IR transit spectroscopy can be easily met with existing devices. No new detector developments are required. This project will include the development of a high-accuracy calibration system with a stable reference source. This scheme will allow for real time monitoring of the detector gain, which we anticipate will result in a background limited performance with the required stability of better than 5 ppm for the detection of bio-signatures in a designated spectrometer flying e.g. on the OST space tele-scope, and as such will help to answer one of NASA's main questions: "are we alone?"
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #233
- Pub Date:
- January 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AAS...23330405S