4 November 2024 Stabilization of light sources with digital micromirror devices for calibration of high-precision photometric instruments
Cédric P. Pereira, Manuel Abreu, Alexandre Cabral
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

To answer the new challenges imposed by the most recent exoplanet space missions, testing and calibrating high-precision photometric instruments requires a highly stable illumination system, which is a great challenge when the mission’s required photometric stability is a few parts per million for long observation periods. Traditional calibration sources do not fulfill the stability requirements of the most demanding missions. It is necessary to use additional methods to compensate for flux fluctuations. This study introduces a new method, using a digital micromirror device (DMD) as an intensity light modulator. DMD is a micro-electromechanical device developed by Texas Instruments, which consists of a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror can be individually tilted between two positions. By controlling the state of each micromirror, it is possible to control the flux of light that goes in a particular direction. This technology enables fast modulation speeds, with high precision and broadband capabilities. This study presents an exploratory work on the technical feasibility of using DMDs to compensate for light source fluctuations, accurately modulating the beam coming from a Halogen (QTH) source. We developed a proof-of-concept method able to reduce light source fluctuations from ±1.3% to ±0.1%, based on a simple open loop methodology.

© 2024 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
Cédric P. Pereira, Manuel Abreu, and Alexandre Cabral "Stabilization of light sources with digital micromirror devices for calibration of high-precision photometric instruments," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 10(4), 048002 (4 November 2024). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.10.4.048002
Received: 6 August 2024; Accepted: 14 October 2024; Published: 4 November 2024
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KEYWORDS
Digital micromirror devices

Micromirrors

Light sources

Pipes

Equipment

Calibration

Modulation

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