data methods; software; signal processing; high contrast imaging; high angular resolution; optimization; model fitting; universal; self-; calibration; statistical analysis
Abstract :
[en] Nulling interferometry is a powerful observing technique to study exoplanets and circumstellar dust at separations too small for direct imaging with single-dish telescopes. With recent photonic developments and the near-future ground-based instrumental projects, it bears the potential to detect young giant planets near the snow lines of their host stars. The observable quantity of a nulling interferometer is called the null depth, and its precise measurement and calibration remain challenging against instrument and atmospheric noise. Null self-calibration is a method aiming to model the statistical distribution of the nulled signal. It has proven to be more sensitive and accurate than average-based data reduction methods in nulling interferometry. The variety of existing and upcoming nullers raises the issue of consistency of the calibration process, the structure of the data, and the ability to reduce archived data in the long term. It has also led to many different implementations of the null self-calibration method. We introduce GRIP: the first open-source toolbox to reduce nulling data with enhanced statistical self-calibration methods from any nulling interferometric instrument within a single and consistent framework. Astrophysical results show good consistency with two published Guided-Light Interferometric Nulling Technology and Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer datasets and confirm nulling precision down to a few 10<SUP>−4</SUP>. <P />D.D., G.G., and M-A.M. acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant No. CoG - 866070). <P />R.L. has received funding from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) (Grant No. 1234224N). <P />SE is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the Astrophysics Decadal Survey Precursor Science program (Grant No. 80NSSC23K1473).
Research Center/Unit :
STAR - Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research - ULiège
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Martinod, Marc-Antoine; Katholieke University of Leuven, Astronomical Institute
Defrère, Denis; Katholieke University of Leuven, Astronomical Institute
Laugier, Romain; Katholieke University of Leuven, Astronomical Institute
Ertel, Steve; Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Absil, Olivier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Norris, Barnaby; University of Sydney, Department of Astronomy
Mennesson, Bertrand; Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Language :
English
Title :
GRIP: a generic data reduction package for nulling interferometry
Publication date :
05 May 2025
Journal title :
Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems
Copyright 2025 Society of Photo‑Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this publication for a fee or for commercial purposes, and modification of the contents of the publication are prohibited.
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