The Pathfinder Testbed: Exploring Techniques for Achieving Precision Radial Velocities in the Near-Infrared

TL;DR

The Pathfinder testbed demonstrates near-infrared radial velocity measurements with 7-10 m/s precision, exploring calibration techniques and serving as a prototype for high-precision NIR spectrographs targeting exoplanet detection around M dwarfs.

Contribution

This work introduces the Pathfinder testbed as a prototype for achieving high-precision NIR radial velocities and explores novel calibration methods for exoplanet detection.

Findings

Achieved 7-10 m/s radial velocity precision on sunlight.

Tested calibration techniques like Uranium-Neon lamps and notch filters.

Demonstrated potential for detecting low-mass planets around M dwarfs.

Abstract

The Penn State Pathfinder is a prototype warm fiber-fed Echelle spectrograph with a Hawaii-1 NIR detector that has already demonstrated 7-10 m/s radial velocity precision on integrated sunlight. The Pathfinder testbed was initially setup for the Gemini PRVS design study to enable a systematic exploration of the challenges of achieving high radial velocity precision in the near-infrared, as well as to test possible solutions to these calibration challenges. The current version of the Pathfinder has an R3 echelle grating, and delivers a resolution of R~50,000 in the Y, J or H bands of the spectrum. We will discuss the on sky-performance of the Pathfinder during an engineering test run at the Hobby Eberly Telescope as well the results of velocity observations of M dwarfs. We will also discuss the unique calibration techniques we have explored, like Uranium-Neon hollow cathode lamps, notch filter, and modal noise mitigation to enable high precision radial velocity observation in the NIR. The Pathfinder is a prototype testbed precursor of a cooled high-resolution NIR spectrograph capable of high radial velocity precision and of finding low mass planets around mid-late M dwarfs.