In a significant stride towards enhancing the precision of exoplanet atmospheric observations, researchers have developed an optimized algorithm to mitigate jitter-induced disturbances in the European Space Agency’s Ariel mission. Scheduled for launch in 2029, Ariel aims to conduct an unprecedented large-scale survey of atmospheric spectra of transiting exoplanets, a task that demands exceptional photometric stability.
Jitter, or the unintended movement of the spacecraft’s line of sight, poses a considerable challenge to the accuracy of these measurements. To address this, the research team, led by Andrea Bocchieri and Lorenzo V. Mugnai, has devised an advanced de-jittering algorithm. This algorithm leverages spatial information on the Point Spread Function (PSF) distortion caused by jitter to detrend optical signals effectively.
The jitter model used in this study is based on simulations provided by Airbus Defence and Space, the prime contractor for the Ariel service module. By applying their algorithm to these simulations, the researchers were able to investigate the precision and potential biases in the retrieved atmospheric spectra.
The results are promising. The algorithm successfully de-jitters both photometric and spectroscopic data, ensuring that the performance of the Ariel spectrometer remains photon noise-limited across the entire spectrum. This is particularly significant at long wavelengths, where the photometric stability of the spectrometer is already dominated by photon noise.
This breakthrough contributes to the ongoing development of the data reduction pipeline for the Ariel mission, bringing it one step closer to achieving its scientific goals. Moreover, the algorithm’s potential applicability to other astronomical telescopes and instrumentation underscores its broader significance in the field of space-based observations.
The research team comprised experts from various institutions, including Andrea Bocchieri and Lorenzo V. Mugnai from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Enzo Pascale from the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, Andreas Papageorgiou and Angelos Tsiaras from the University College London, and several others. Their collaborative efforts highlight the interdisciplinary nature of this work and its potential to advance our understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres. Read the original research paper here.