The Dark UNiverse Explorer (DUNE): Proposal to ESA's Cosmic Vision

TL;DR

DUNE is a space-based wide-field imager designed to study dark energy, dark matter, and galaxy evolution with high precision, using an all-sky survey across visible and near-infrared wavelengths.

Contribution

It proposes a cost-effective, heritage-based mission concept for ESA's Cosmic Vision, enabling unprecedented cosmological and astrophysical measurements.

Findings

Designed to measure weak gravitational lensing with high accuracy

Will perform an all-sky survey in visible and NIR bands

Aims to advance understanding of dark energy, dark matter, and galaxy evolution

Abstract

The Dark UNiverse Explorer (DUNE) is a wide-field space imager whose primary goal is the study of dark energy and dark matter with unprecedented precision. For this purpose, DUNE is optimised for the measurement of weak gravitational lensing but will also provide complementary measurements of baryonic accoustic oscillations, cluster counts and the Integrated Sachs Wolfe effect. Immediate auxiliary goals concern the evolution of galaxies, to be studied with unequalled statistical power, the detailed structure of the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, and the demographics of Earth-mass planets. DUNE is an Medium-class mission which makes use of readily available components, heritage from other missions, and synergy with ground based facilities to minimise cost and risks. The payload consists of a 1.2m telescope with a combined visible/NIR field-of-view of 1 deg^2. DUNE will carry out an all-sky survey, ranging from 550 to 1600nm, in one visible and three NIR bands which will form a unique legacy for astronomy. DUNE will yield major advances in a broad range of fields in astrophysics including fundamental cosmology, galaxy evolution, and extrasolar planet search. DUNE was recently selected by ESA as one of the mission concepts to be studied in its Cosmic Vision programme.