The Coronagraphic Instrument (CGI) of the Roman Space Telescope NASA space mission is a demonstrator of critical technologies for future space coronagraphs aiming at imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanets and debris disks. Extremely high optical performances are required in term of optical quality of the components inside this instrument. The Stress Mirror Polishing (SMP) technique have been developed for several decades at Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM). SMP allows reaching exquisite optical quality on the optics demonstrated through very low Surface Figure Errors (SFE): <5nm RMS on low frequencies, <2nm RMS on middle frequencies (from 3 to 10 cycles per pupil), an extremely low level of high frequencies (no ripples) and micro-roughness < 5Å RMS. In the frame of a scientific international collaboration between NASA and CNES, the French space agency, LAM is selected for the manufacturing of all Off-Axis Parabolas (OAP) for the WFIRST-CGI. LAM has delivered 17 models including one prototype, 8 flight models in July 2021 and 8 flight spares delivered in May 2022. In this paper, we give an overview of the SMP process, from design to manufacturing and verification tests validating the performance. We will present the performance obtained on the first models that have been manufactured compared to theoretical calculations based on requirements for these OAPs.
The Infra-Red Telescope (IRT) is part of the payload of the THESEUS mission, which is one of the two ESA M5 candidates within the Cosmic Vision program, planned for launch in 2032. The THESEUS payload, composed by two high energy wide field monitors (SXI and XGIS) and a near infra-red telescope (IRT), is optimized to detect, localize and characterize Gamma-Ray Bursts and other high-energy transients. The main goal of the IRT is to identify and precisely localize the NIR counterparts of the high-energy sources and to measure their distance. Here we present the design of the IRT and its expected performance.
The launch of ESA EUCLID mission is foreseen in 36020. The goal of the mission is to understand the nature of the dark energy and to map the geometry of the dark matter. The EUCLID telescope will be equipped with two instruments working in the visible range (VIS) and in the IR range (NISP) to investigate the distance-redshift relationship and the evolution of cosmic structures. The NISP (Near Infrared Spectro-Photometer) will operate in the near-IR spectral range (0.9-2μm) with two observing modes: the photometric mode for the acquisition of images with broadband filters, and the spectroscopic mode for the acquisition of slitless dispersed images on the detectors. NISP is then using four low resolution grisms to acquire spectroscopic image in different orientations to better distinguish the spectra observed and to cover two spectral ranges: 1250-1850nm range, and 920-1300nm range. Since 2010, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille is working on the development and the test of the NISP grisms, that are complex optical components. The grism combines four main optical functions: a grism function done by the grating on the prism hypotenuse, a spectral filter done by a multilayer filter deposited on the first face of the prism, a focus function done by the curved filter face of the prism and a spectral wavefront correction done by the grating which grooves paths are nor parallel, neither straight. The NISP instrument is now entering in the integration phase of the proto flight model of the instrument. Therefore, the NISP grism flight models have been manufactured and delivered to the grism wheel assembly for integration by end of 2017. In this paper, we present the optical performance and characteristics of the four EUCLID NISP grisms flight models that have been developed and manufactured by four different industrial partners then integrated and tested by LAM. We focus on the performance obtained on the optical performance of the component; wavefront error of the components, the spectral transmission and groove profiles. The test results analysis show that the grisms flight models for NISP are well within specifications with an efficiency better than 70% on the spectral bandpass and a wavefront error on surfaces better than 30nm RMS. The results on the component show a good control of the manufacturing and integration process despite the difficulties at the beginning of the project to manufacture these components.
ESA EUCLID mission will be launched in 2020 to understand the nature of the dark energy responsible of the accelerated expansion of the Universe and to map the geometry of the dark matter. The map will investigate the distanceredshift relationship and the evolution of cosmic structures thanks to two instruments: the NISP and the VIS. The NISP (Near Infrared Spectro-Photometer) is operating in the near-IR spectral range (0.9-2μm) with two observing modes: the photometric mode for the acquisition of images with broad band filters, and the spectroscopic mode for the acquisition of slitless dispersed images on the detectors. The spectroscopic mode uses four low resolution grisms to cover two spectral ranges: three "red" grisms for 1250-1850nm range, with three different orientations, and one "blue" grism for 920- 1300nm range. The NISP grisms are complex optical components combining four main optical functions: a grism function (dispersion without beam deviation of the first diffracted order) done by the grating on the prism hypotenuse, a spectral filter done by a multilayer filter deposited on the first face of the prism to select the spectral bandpass, a focus function done by the curved filter face of the prism (curvature radius of 10m) and a spectral wavefront correction done by the grating which grooves paths are nor parallel, neither straight. The development of these components have been started since 10 years at the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) and was linked to the project phases: prototypes have been developed to demonstrate the feasibility, then engineering and qualification models to validate the optical and mechanical performance of the component, finally the flight models have been manufactured and tested and will be installed on NISP instrument. In this paper, we present the optical performance of the four EUCLID NISP grisms flight models characterized at LAM: wavefront error, spectral transmission and grating groove profiles. The test devices and the methods developed for the characterization of these specific optical components are described. The analysis of the test results have shown that the grisms flight models for NISP are within specifications with an efficiency better than 70% on the spectral bandpass and a wavefront error on surfaces better than 30nm RMS. The components have withstood vibration qualification level up to 11.6g RMS in random test and vacuum cryogenics test down to 130K with measurement of optical quality in transmission. The EUCLID grisms flight models have been delivered to NISP project in November 2017 after the test campaign done at LAM that has demonstrated the compliance to the specifications.
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