The Pathfinder testbed: exploring techniques for achieving precision radial velocities in the near infrared

Larry W. Ramsey; Suvrath Mahadevan; Stephen Redman; Chad Bender; Arpita Roy; Stephanie Zonak; Steinn Sigurdsson; Alex Wolszczan

doi:10.1117/12.857502

20 July 2010 The Pathfinder testbed: exploring techniques for achieving precision radial velocities in the near infrared

Larry W. Ramsey, Suvrath Mahadevan, Stephen Redman, Chad Bender, Arpita Roy, Stephanie Zonak, Steinn Sigurdsson, Alex Wolszczan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III; 773571 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857502
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Penn State Pathfinder is a prototype warm fiber-fed Echelle spectrograph with a Hawaii-1 NIR detector that has already demonstrated 7-10 m/s radial velocity precision on integrated sunlight. The Pathfinder testbed was initially setup for the Gemini PRVS design study to enable a systematic exploration of the challenges of achieving high radial velocity precision in the near-infrared, as well as to test possible solutions to these calibration challenges. The current version of the Pathfinder has an R3 echelle grating, and delivers a resolution of R~50,000 in the Y, J or H bands of the spectrum. We will discuss the on sky-performance of the Pathfinder during an engineering test run at the Hobby Eberly Telescope as well the results of velocity observations of M dwarfs. We will also discuss the unique calibration techniques we have explored, like Uranium-Neon hollow cathode lamps, notch filter, and modal noise mitigation to enable high precision radial velocity observation in the NIR. The Pathfinder is a prototype testbed precursor of a cooled high-resolution NIR spectrograph capable of high radial velocity precision and of finding low mass planets around mid-late M dwarfs.

Citation Download Citation

Larry W. Ramsey, Suvrath Mahadevan, Stephen Redman, Chad Bender, Arpita Roy, Stephanie Zonak, Steinn Sigurdsson, and Alex Wolszczan "The Pathfinder testbed: exploring techniques for achieving precision radial velocities in the near infrared", Proc. SPIE 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III, 773571 (20 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857502

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available