Compact Spatial Heterodyne Spectrographs for Future Space-Based Observations: Instrument Modeling and Applications

Area of Science:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Spectroscopy
• Space Instrumentation

Background:

• Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS) is a proven technique for scientific applications.
• SHS offers superior performance and cost-effectiveness in the UV-Vis spectrum compared to existing instruments.
• SHS instruments provide high resolution and large etendues, beneficial for space missions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive Python-based SHS model.
• To integrate a web scraping interface for target selection and parameter generation.
• To create a 2D interferogram generation tool for SHS.

Main Methods:

• Developed a Python SHS model with a web interface for data acquisition and interferogram creation.
• Implemented an interferogram processing algorithm including flat-fielding, bias removal, apodization, and inverse Fourier transform (IFT).
• Evaluated the model's resolving power, throughput, and spectral recovery accuracy with realistic SNR values.

Main Results:

• The SHS model achieved double the resolving power of grating spectrometers.
• The model demonstrated throughput comparable to Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS) without mechanical parts.
• Optimization results and trade-offs for system parameters were provided for precise spectral recovery.

Conclusions:

• The developed SHS model is robust, cost-effective, and suitable for space deployment.
• SHS excels in high-resolution, narrow-band spectral analysis, ideal for isotopic emission lines.
• This research accelerates the development and application of SHS for diverse scientific fields like cometary, planetary, atmospheric, solar, and ISM studies.