Abstract
In a cold and stable space environment, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST or”Webb”) reaches unprecedented sensitivities at wavelengths beyond 2 microns, serving most fields of astrophysics. It also extends the parameter space of high-contrast imaging into the near and mid-infrared. Launched in late 2021, JWST underwent a six month commissioning period. In this contribution we focus on the NIRCam Coronagraphy mode which was declared”science ready” on July 10 2022, the last of the 17 JWST observing modes. Essentially, this mode enables the detection of fainter/redder/colder (less massive for a given age) self-luminous exoplanets as well as other faint astrophysical signal in the vicinity of any bright object (stars or galaxies). Here we describe some of the steps and hurdles the commissioning team went through to achieve excellent performance. Specifically, we focus on the Coronagraphic Suppression Verification activity. We were able to produce firm detections at 3.35µm of the white dwarf companion HD 114174 B which is at a separation of ' 0.500and a contrast of ' 10 magnitudes (104 fainter than the K∼5.3 mag host star). We compare these first on-sky images with our latest, most informed and realistic end-to-end simulations through the same pipeline. Additionally we provide information on how we succeeded with the target acquisition with all five NIRCam focal plane masks and their four corresponding wedged Lyot stops.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022 |
Subtitle of host publication | Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave |
Editors | Laura E. Coyle, Shuji Matsuura, Marshall D. Perrin |
Publisher | SPIE |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781510653412 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2022 |
Event | Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave - Montreal, Canada Duration: Jul 17 2022 → Jul 22 2022 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
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Volume | 12180 |
ISSN (Print) | 0277-786X |
ISSN (Electronic) | 1996-756X |
Conference
Conference | Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave |
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Country/Territory | Canada |
City | Montreal |
Period | 7/17/22 → 7/22/22 |
Keywords
- Commissioning
- Coronagraphy
- Exoplanets
- High Angular Resolution
- High Contrast Imaging
- Infrared Astronomy
- James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
- NIRCam
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science Applications
- Applied Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering