Imaging Fourier transform spectroscopy from a space based platform : the Herschel/SPIRE Fourier transform spectrometer
Date
2009
Authors
Spencer, Locke Dean
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Herschel Space Observatory (Herschel), a
flagship mission of the European
Space Agency (ESA), is comprised of three cryogenically cooled instruments commissioned
to explore the far-infrared/submillimetre universe. Herschel's remote orbit at the second
Lagrangian point (L2) of the Sun-Earth system, and its cryogenic payload, impose a need
for thorough instrument characterization and rigorous testing as there will be no possibility
for any servicing after launch.
The Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) is one of the instrument
payloads aboard Herschel and consists of a three band imaging photometer and a two band
imaging spectrometer. The imaging spectrometer on SPIRE consists of a Mach-Zehnder
(MZ)-Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) coupled with bolometric detector arrays to
form an imaging FTS (IFTS). This thesis presents experiments conducted to verify the
performance of an IFTS system from a space based platform, i.e. the use of the SPIRE
IFTS within the Herschel space observatory. Prior to launch, the SPIRE instrument has
undergone a series of performance verification tests conducted at the Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory (RAL) near Oxford, UK. Canada is involved in the SPIRE project through
provision of instrument development hardware and software, mission
flight software, and
support personnel. Through this thesis project I have been stationed at RAL for a period
spanning fifteen months to participate in the development, performance verification, and
characterization of both the SPIRE FTS and photometer instruments.
This thesis discusses Fourier transform spectroscopy and related FTS data process
ing (Chapter 2). Detailed discussions are included on the spectral phase related to the FTS
beamsplitter (Chapter 3), the imaging aspects of the SPIRE IFTS instrument (Chapter 4),
and the noise characteristics of the SPIRE bolometer detector arrays as measured using the
SPIRE IFTS (Chapter 5). This thesis presents results from experiments performed both on
site at the RAL Space Science and Technology Department (SSTD) Assembly Integration
Verification (AIV) instrument test facility as well as from the Astronomical Instrumentation
Group (AIG) research laboratories within the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the
University of Lethbridge.
Description
xxiii, 243 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
Keywords
Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPRIRE) , Fourier transform spectroscopy -- Software , Fourier transform spectorscopy , Dissertations, Academic