Transition-edge sensor detectors for the Origins Space Telescope

Nagler, Peter C.; Sadleir, J. E.; Wollack, Edward J.

doi:10.1117/1.jatis.7.1.011005

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 99 publications

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“…The challenges related to MIR detector technology (and availability) has already been discussed in LIFE paper I (Quanz et al 2022). An interesting alternative approach could be using kinetic inductance detectors or transition edge sensor detectors, which may also be applicable for the LIFE wavelength range (e.g., Perido et al 2020;Nagler et al 2021). The acceptable perturbation levels will depend on the configuration of the observed system.…”

Section: Appendix A3 Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE)

Dannert

Ottiger

Quanz

et al. 2022

A&A

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Context. The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) initiative is developing the science and a technology road map for an ambitious space mission featuring a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer in order to detect the thermal emission of hundreds of exoplanets and characterize their atmospheres. Aims. In order to quantify the science potential of such a mission, in particular in the context of technical trade-offs, an instrument simulator is required. In addition, signal extraction algorithms are needed to verify that exoplanet properties (e.g., angular separation and spectral flux) contained in simulated exoplanet data sets can be accurately retrieved. Methods. We present LIFEsim, a software tool developed for simulating observations of exoplanetary systems with an MIR space-based nulling interferometer. It includes astrophysical noise sources (i.e., stellar leakage and thermal emission from local zodiacal and exozodiacal dust) and offers the flexibility to include instrumental noise terms in the future. Here, we provide some first quantitative limits on instrumental effects that would allow the measurements to remain in the fundamental noise limited regime. We demonstrate updated signal extraction approaches to validating signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) estimates from the simulator. Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate a mock survey of nearby terrestrial exoplanets and determine to which accuracy fundamental planet properties can be retrieved. Results. LIFEsim provides an accessible way to predict the expected S/N of future observations as a function of various key instrument and target parameters. The S/Ns of the extracted spectra are photon noise dominated, as expected from our current simulations. Signals from multi-planet systems can be reliably extracted. From single-epoch observations in our mock survey of small (R < 1.5 REarth) planets orbiting within the habitable zones of their stars, we find that typical uncertainties in the estimated effective temperature of the exoplanets are ≲10%, for the exoplanet radius ≲20%, and for the separation from the host star ≲2%. Signal-to-noise-ratio values obtained in the signal extraction process deviate by less than 10% from purely photon-counting statistics-based S/Ns. Conclusions. LIFEsim has been sufficiently well validated so that it can be shared with a broader community interested in quantifying various exoplanet science cases that a future space-based MIR nulling interferometer could address. Reliable signal extraction algorithms exist, and our results underline the power of the MIR wavelength range for deriving fundamental exoplanet properties from single-epoch observations.

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Section: Appendix A3 Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE)

Dannert

Ottiger

Quanz

et al. 2022

A&A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Solving this equation using our measured NEP and bandwidth, we find ∆E FWHM 0.19 meV. Using spectral resolving power R = 4 as the criteria for noiselessly counting single photons [41], the calculated ∆E FWHM implies that this device has the intrinsic sensitivity to count single 180 GHz photons.…”

Section: Theory and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Demonstration of ultra-low noise equivalent power using a longitudinal proximity effect transition-edge sensor

Nagler,

Sadleir,

Wollack

2020

Preprint

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Future far-infrared astronomy missions will need large arrays of detectors with exceptionally low noise-equivalent power (NEP), with some mission concepts calling for thousands of detectors with NEPs below a few ×10 −20 W/ √ Hz. Though much progress has been made toward meeting this goal, such detector systems do not exist today. In this work, we present a device that offers a compelling path forward: the longitudinal proximity effect (LoPE) transition-edge sensor (TES). With a chemically-stable and mechanically-robust architecture, the LoPE TES we designed, fabricated, and characterized also exhibits unprecedented sensitivity, with a measured electrical NEP of 8 × 10 −22 W/ √ Hz. This represents a >100x advancement of the state-of-the-art, pushing TES detectors into the regime where they may be employed the achieve to goals of even the most ambitious large and cold future space instruments.

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“…The challenges related to MIR detector technology (and availability) has already been discussed in LIFE paper I (Quanz et al 2021). An interesting alternative approach could be kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) or Transition Edge Sensor detectors (TES) that may also be applicable for the LIFE wavelength range (e.g., Perido et al 2020;Nagler et al 2021). The acceptable perturbation levels will depend on the configuration of the observed system.…”

Section: Appendix A3: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): II. Signal simulation, signal extraction and fundamental exoplanet parameters from single epoch observations

Dannert,

Ottiger,

Quanz

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context. The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) initiative is developing the science and a technology roadmap for an ambitious space mission featuring a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer in order to detect the thermal emission of hundreds of exoplanets and characterize their atmospheres. Aims. In order to quantify the science potential of such a mission, in particular in the context of technical trade-offs, an instrument simulator is required. In addition, signal extraction algorithms are needed to verify that exoplanet properties (e.g., angular separation, spectral flux) contained in simulated exoplanet datasets can be accurately retrieved. Methods. We present LIFEsim, a software tool developed for simulating observations of exoplanetary systems with an MIR spacebased nulling interferometer. It includes astrophysical noise sources (i.e., stellar leakage and thermal emission from local zodiacal and exo-zodiacal dust) and offers the flexibility to include instrumental noise terms in the future. Here, we provide some first quantitative limits on instrumental effects that would allow the measurements to remain in the fundamental noise limited regime. We demonstrate updated signal extraction approaches to validate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimates from the simulator. Monte-Carlo simulations are used to generate a mock survey of nearby terrestrial exoplanets and determine to which accuracy fundamental planet properties can be retrieved.Results. LIFEsim provides an accessible way for predicting the expected SNR of future observations as a function of various key instrument and target parameters. The SNRs of the extracted spectra are photon-noise dominated, as expected from our current simulations. Signals from multi-planet systems can be reliably extracted. From single epoch observations in our mock survey of small (R < 1.5R Earth ) planets orbiting within the habitable zones of their stars, we find that typical uncertainties in the estimated effective temperature of the exoplanets are 10%, for the exoplanet radius 20%, and for the separation from the host star 2%. SNR values obtained in the signal extraction process deviate less than 10% from purely photon-counting statistics based SNRs. Conclusions. LIFEsim has been sufficiently well validated so that it can be shared with a broader community interested in quantifying various exoplanet science cases that a future space-based MIR nulling interferometer could address. Reliable signal extraction algorithms exist and our results underline the power of the MIR wavelength range for deriving fundamental exoplanet properties from single-epoch observations.

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Transition-edge sensor detectors for the Origins Space Telescope

Cited by 17 publications

References 99 publications

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE)

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE)

Demonstration of ultra-low noise equivalent power using a longitudinal proximity effect transition-edge sensor

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): II. Signal simulation, signal extraction and fundamental exoplanet parameters from single epoch observations

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