Ariel Mission

ExoSim 2: The New Exoplanet Observation Simulator Applied to the Ariel Space Mission

By Keith Cowing
Status Report
astro-ph.IM
January 23, 2025
Filed under , , , , ,
ExoSim 2: The New Exoplanet Observation Simulator Applied to the Ariel Space Mission
Focal planes produced by ExoSim 2 for the Ariel VISPhot channel using two different PSFs. The focal plane array size is 64 × 64 pixels, oversampled by a factor of 3. Both panels are presented in decibels ([dB]) units to highlight the PSF side lobes. The left panel shows the effective PSF using an Airy function, which is cropped to the 8th zero. The right panel presents the effective PSF using a PAOS-simulated PSF as input, including aberrations and a defocusing of 200 nm root mean square (RMS) on the wavefront. — astro-ph.IM

ExoSim 2 is the next generation of the Exoplanet Observation Simulator (ExoSim) tailored for spectro-photometric observations of transiting exoplanets from space, ground, and sub-orbital platforms.

This software is a complete rewrite implemented in Python 3, embracing object-oriented design principles, which allow users to replace each component with their functions when required. ExoSim 2 is publicly available on GitHub, serving as a valuable resource for the scientific community.

ExoSim 2 employs a modular architecture using Task classes, encapsulating simulation algorithms and functions. This flexible design facilitates the extensibility and adaptability of ExoSim 2 to diverse instrument configurations to address the evolving needs of the scientific community.

Data management within ExoSim 2 is handled by the Signal class, which represents a structured data cube incorporating time, space, and spectral dimensions. The code execution in ExoSim 2 follows a three-step workflow: the creation of focal planes, the production of Sub-Exposure blocks, and the generation of non-destructive reads (NDRs).

Each step can be executed independently, optimizing time and computational resources. ExoSim 2 has been extensively validated against other tools like ArielRad and has demonstrated consistency in estimating photon conversion efficiency, saturation time, and signal generation. The simulator has also been validated independently for instantaneous read-out and jitter simulation, and for astronomical signal representation.

In conclusion, ExoSim 2 offers a robust and flexible tool for exoplanet observation simulation, capable of adapting to diverse instrument configurations and evolving scientific needs. Its design principles and validation results underscore its potential as a valuable resource in the field of exoplanet research.

Lorenzo V. Mugnai, Andrea Bocchieri, Enzo Pascale, Andrea Lorenzani, Andreas Papageorgiou

Comments: 35 pages, 18 Figures. Accepted for publication on this http URL
Subjects: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
Cite as: arXiv:2501.12809 [astro-ph.IM] (or arXiv:2501.12809v1 [astro-ph.IM] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.12809
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Submission history
From: Lorenzo Mugnai
[v1] Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:40:45 UTC (3,923 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.12809
Astrobiology,

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻