Astro2020 Project White Paper: The Cosmic Accelerometer
Stephen S. Eikenberry (University of Florida), Anthony Gonzalez, (University of Florida), Jeremy Darling (University of Colorado), Jochen, Liske (Hamburger Sternwarte), Zachary Slepian (University of Florida), Guido, Mueller (University of Florida)

TL;DR
The Cosmic Accelerometer is a proposed experiment utilizing innovative low-cost telescope technology to achieve ultra-precise velocity measurements, enabling applications in exoplanet detection and cosmological redshift drift studies over extended periods.
Contribution
It introduces the PolyOculus telescope technology and a measurement approach that combines cost-effectiveness with high precision for long-term astrophysical observations.
Findings
Design concept for the Cosmic Accelerometer
Potential to detect cosmological redshift drift within 6 years
Feasibility of using commercial off-the-shelf components for high-precision measurements
Abstract
We propose an experiment, the Cosmic Accelerometer, designed to yield velocity precision of cm/s with measurement stability over years to decades. The first-phase Cosmic Accelerometer, which is at the scale of the Astro2020 Small programs, will be ideal for precision radial velocity measurements of terrestrial exoplanets in the Habitable Zone of Sun-like stars. At the same time, this experiment will serve as the technical pathfinder and facility core for a second-phase larger facility at the Medium scale, which can provide a significant detection of cosmological redshift drift on a 6-year timescale. This larger facility will naturally provide further detection/study of Earth twin planet systems as part of its external calibration process. This experiment is fundamentally enabled by a novel low-cost telescope technology called PolyOculus, which harnesses recent advances in…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAdvanced Frequency and Time Standards · Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies · Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
