50 research outputs found

    The Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on the James Webb Space Telescope: I. Overview of the instrument and its capabilities

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    We provide an overview of the design and capabilities of the near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec) onboard the James Webb Space Telescope. NIRSpec is designed to be capable of carrying out low-resolution (R ⁣=30 ⁣−330R\!=30\!-330) prism spectroscopy over the wavelength range 0.6−5.3â€‰âŁÂ ÎŒ0.6-5.3\!~\mum and higher resolution (R ⁣=500 ⁣−1340R\!=500\!-1340 or R ⁣=1320 ⁣−3600R\!=1320\!-3600) grating spectroscopy over 0.7−5.2â€‰âŁÂ ÎŒ0.7-5.2\!~\mum, both in single-object mode employing any one of five fixed slits, or a 3.1×\times3.2 arcsec2^2 integral field unit, or in multiobject mode employing a novel programmable micro-shutter device covering a 3.6×\times3.4~arcmin2^2 field of view. The all-reflective optical chain of NIRSpec and the performance of its different components are described, and some of the trade-offs made in designing the instrument are touched upon. The faint-end spectrophotometric sensitivity expected of NIRSpec, as well as its dependency on the energetic particle environment that its two detector arrays are likely to be subjected to in orbit are also discussed

    The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

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    This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies

    The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

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    Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least 4m4m. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the 6.5m6.5m James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

    Ultrasensitive Molecule Detection Based on Infrared Metamaterial Absorber with Vertical Nanogap

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    Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy is a powerful methodology for sensing and identifying small quantities of analyte molecules via coupling between molecular vibrations and an enhanced near-field induced in engineered structures. A metamaterial absorber (MA) is proposed as an efficient SEIRA platform; however, its efficiency is limited because it requires the appropriate insulator thickness and has a limited accessible area for sensing. SEIRA spectroscopy is proposed using an MA with a 10 nm thick vertical nanogap, and a record-high reflection difference SEIRA signal of 36% is experimentally achieved using a 1-octadecanethiol monolayer target molecule. Theoretical and experimental comparative studies are conducted using MAs with three different vertical nanogaps. The MAs with a vertical nanogap are processed using nanoimprint lithography and isotropic dry etching, which allow cost-effective large-area patterning and mass production. The proposed structure may provide promising routes for ultrasensitive sensing and detection applications

    The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

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    This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29

    Simulation flow and model verification for laser direct-write lithography

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    A simulation flow for laser direct-write lithography (LDWL), a maskless lithography process in which a focused laser beam is scanned through a photoresist, is proposed. The simulation flow includes focusing of Gaussian beams, photoresist exposure, free-radical polymerization chemistry of the photoresist, and photoresist development. We applied the simulation method to investigate the scaling of feature sizes or linewidths for a varying number of exposure cycles at a total constant exposure dose. Experimental results from literature demonstrate that exposing the photoresist over multiple exposure cycles causes a reduction in linewidths. We explore possible reasons for this phenomenon and conclude that radical losses occurring between subsequent exposures provide a possible explanation of the observed effects. Furthermore, we apply the developed simulation method to analyze lithographic structures that were fabricated by a combination of LDWL and nano-imprint lithography. The simulation results agree with the experimental tendencies of a reduced likelihood of overexposures with an increase in the number of exposure cycles

    Optical polymers with tunable refractive index for nanoimprint technologies

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    In order to realize a versatile high throughput production of micro-optical elements, UV-curable polymer composites containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. The composites are based on an industrial prototype epoxy polymer. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm were synthesized by the nonaqueous sol method and in situ sterically stabilized by three different organic surfactants. The composites exhibit high transparency. Distinct alteration of optical transmission properties for visible light and near IR wavelength range could be avoided by adaption of the stabilizing organic surfactant. Most importantly, the refractive index (RI) of the composites that depends on the fraction of incorporated inorganic nanoparticles could be directly tuned. E.g. the RI at a wavelength of 635 nm of a composite containing 23 wt% titanium dioxide nanoparticles is increased to 1.626, with respect to a value of 1.542 for the pure polymer. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that the prepared inorganic – organic nanocomposites are well suited for the direct fabrication of low- cost micro-optical elements by nanoimprint lithography. A low response of the optical composite properties to temperature treatment up to 220 °C with a shrinkage of only about 4% ensures its application for integrated micro-optical elements in industrial production

    Large area manufacturing of plasmonic colour filters using substrate conformal imprint lithography

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    This work presents the large area fabrication of plasmonic colour filters consisting of subwavelength apertures in aluminium films of different thicknesses. Wafer-scale pattern transfer was realized by a soft lithography technique (substrate conformal imprint lithography). The fabricated colour filters have an active area of up to 145 cm2 which presents a considerable increase compared to previously published results. In addition to experimental investigations, simulations of the transmission behaviour were performed using a rigorous electromagnetic field solver based on an extendedRCWA approach. Furthermore, the use of a spin-coated cover layer consisting of the UV-curable hybrid polymer OrmoCompÂź instead of often applied PECVD-SiO2 was investigated
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