Rubidium-traced white-light etalon calibrator for radial velocity measurements at the cm s−1 level

Julian Stürmer; Andreas Seifahrt; Christian Schwab; Jacob L. Bean

doi:10.1117/1.JATIS.3.2.025003

13 June 2017 Rubidium-traced white-light etalon calibrator for radial velocity measurements at the cm s⁻¹ level

Julian Stürmer, Andreas Seifahrt, Christian Schwab, Jacob L. Bean

Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 3, Issue 2, 025003 (June 2017). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.3.2.025003

Abstract

We report on the construction and testing of a vacuum-gap Fabry–Pérot etalon calibrator for high precision radial velocity spectrographs. Our etalon is traced against a rubidium frequency standard to provide a cost effective, yet ultra precise wavelength reference. We describe here a turn-key system working at 500 to 900 nm, ready to be installed at any current and next-generation radial velocity spectrograph that requires calibration over a wide spectral bandpass. Where appropriate, we have used off-the-shelf, commercial components with demonstrated long-term performance to accelerate the development timescale of this instrument. Our system combines for the first time the advantages of passively stabilized etalons for optical and near-infrared wavelengths with the laser-locking technique demonstrated for single-mode fiber etalons. We realize uncertainties in the position of one etalon line at the 10 cm s−1 level in individual measurements taken at 4 Hz. When binning the data over 10 s, we are able to trace the etalon line with a precision of better than 3 cm s−1. We present data obtained during a week of continuous operation where we detect (and correct for) the predicted, but previously unobserved shrinking of the etalon Zerodur spacer corresponding to a shift of 13 cm s−1 per day.

Citation Download Citation

Julian Stürmer, Andreas Seifahrt, Christian Schwab, and Jacob L. Bean "Rubidium-traced white-light etalon calibrator for radial velocity measurements at the cm s⁻¹ level," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 3(2), 025003 (13 June 2017). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.3.2.025003

Received: 15 December 2016; Accepted: 11 May 2017; Published: 13 June 2017

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