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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
07:22
Fabrication of a Low-Cost, Fiber-Coupled, and Air-Spaced Fabry-Pérot Etalon
Published on: February 3, 2023
Stable and rugged etalon for the Dynamics Explorer Fabry-Perot interferometer. 2: Performance.
T L Killeen1, P B Hays, B C Kennedy
1University of Michigan, Space Physics Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Applied Optics
|April 17, 2010
Summary
The Dynamics Explorer spacecraft
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Space physics
- Optical instrumentation
Background:
- The Dynamics Explorer spacecraft utilizes a Fabry-Perot etalon for upper atmospheric wind measurements.
- Accurate wind data relies on the etalon's long-term thermal stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the development and performance of the Fabry-Perot etalon.
- To analyze thermal stability and thermomechanical coupling issues affecting etalon performance.
- To present a novel kinematic mount design for improved stability.
Main Methods:
- Development and flight of a Fabry-Perot etalon on the Dynamics Explorer spacecraft.
- Implementation of passive thermal control systems.
- Design and testing of a new kinematic etalon mount.
- Thermal vacuum testing to identify sources of transmission drift.
Main Results:
- The etalon demonstrated high stability, with wind measurement drift <5 m/sec per orbit and <100 m/sec over months.
- A new kinematic mount design effectively minimized thermomechanical coupling.
- Thermal vacuum tests pinpointed key causes of thermally induced drift in etalon transmission.
Conclusions:
- The Fabry-Perot etalon on the Dynamics Explorer spacecraft achieved excellent thermal stability for upper atmospheric wind measurements.
- The developed kinematic mount design is crucial for maintaining etalon performance in orbit.
- Understanding and mitigating thermally induced drift is essential for accurate remote sensing instruments.
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