Speaker
Maxwell Fagin
(Dartmouth College)
Description
The ability of type Ia supernova surveys to distinguish among the various proposed theories of dark energy is presently limited by the need to reduce systematic photometry errors to significantly less than 1%. In pursuit of this goal, Stubbs and Tonry (2006) have proposed an approach to photometric calibration that deemphasizes celestial standards in favor of using a NIST-calibrated photodiode as the radiometric standard. We have successfully implemented this technique in calibrating instruments and in accounting for molecular extinction in the atmosphere. We report on the design of ALTAIR, a stratospheric balloon-borne instrument intended to directly measure the aerosol component of atmospheric extinction. ALTAIR lofts a calibrated, polychromatic light source well into the stratosphere, which, when observed from the ground with a dispersive imager, directly reveals the transmission function of the atmosphere at selected wavelengths. The light source employs a bank of laser diodes to excite an integrating sphere which precisely maintains the luminosity ratios among colors across all viewing angles. An onboard photodiode with NIST-traceable sensitivity function monitors the source luminosity.
Summary
The design and construction of a high altitude balloon-born light source for calibrating out the effects of the atmosphere, and providing 1a supernova photometry beyond the 1% level.
Primary author
Maxwell Fagin
(Dartmouth College)
Co-authors
Prof.
Christopher Stubbs
(Harvard University)
Prof.
Justin Albert
(University of Victoria)
Prof.
Yorke Brown
(Dartmouth College)