Wide-field Ultraviolet Imager for Astronomical Transient Studies

TL;DR

This paper presents the design of a lightweight, wide-field ultraviolet imager suitable for various platforms, aimed at exploring transient astronomical events in the UV spectrum, which is largely uncharted.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, compact UV imager with specific technical features tailored for transient studies on multiple platforms.

Findings

Designed an 80 mm aperture UV imager with 10.8° FOV

Implemented FPGA-based real-time data processing

Achieved 22 arcsec angular resolution in the 240-390 nm range

Abstract

Though the ultraviolet (UV) domain plays a vital role in the studies of astronomical transient events, the UV time-domain sky remains largely unexplored. We have designed a wide-field UV imager that can be flown on a range of available platforms, such as high-altitude balloons, CubeSats, and larger space missions. The major scientific goals are the variability of astronomical sources, detection of transients such as supernovae, novae, tidal disruption events, and characterizing AGN variability. The instrument has an 80 mm aperture with a circular field of view of 10.8 degrees, an angular resolution of around 22 arcsec, and a 240-390 nm spectral observation window. The detector for the instrument is a Microchannel Plate (MCP)-based image intensifier with both photon counting and integration capabilities. An FPGA-based detector readout mechanism and real-time data processing have been implemented. The imager is designed in such a way that its lightweight and compact nature are well fitted for the CubeSat dimensions. Here we present various design and developmental aspects of this UV wide-field transient explorer.