Charles-Philippe Lajoie

Updated point spread function simulations for JWST with WebbPSF

Accurate models of optical performance are an essential tool for astronomers, both for planning scientific observations ahead of time, and for a wide range of data analysis tasks such as point-spread-function (PSF)-fitting photometry and astrometry, deconvolution, and PSF subtraction. For the James Webb Space Telescope, the WebbPSF program provides a PSF simulation tool in a flexible and easy-to-use software package available to the community and implemented in Python. The latest version of WebbPSF adds new support for spectroscopic modes of JWST NIRISS, MIRI, and NIRSpec, including modeling of slit losses and diffractive line spread functions. It also provides additional options for modeling instrument defocus and/or pupil misalignments. The software infrastructure of WebbPSF has received enhancements including improved parallelization, an updated graphical interface, a better configuration system, and improved documentation. We also present several comparisons of WebbPSF simulated PSFs to observed PSFs obtained using JWSTs flight science instruments during recent cryovac tests. Excellent agreement to first order is achieved for all imaging modes cross-checked thus far, including tests for NIRCam, FGS, NIRISS, and MIRI. These tests demonstrate that WebbPSF model PSFs have good fidelity to the key properties of JWSTs as-built science instruments.

Preparing for JWST wavefront sensing and control operations

The James Webb Space Telescopes segmented primary and deployable secondary mirrors will be actively con- trolled to achieve optical alignment through a complex series of steps that will extend across several months during the observatorys commissioning. This process will require an intricate interplay between individual wavefront sensing and control tasks, instrument-level checkout and commissioning, and observatory-level calibrations, which involves many subsystems across both the observatory and the ground system. Furthermore, commissioning will often exercise observatory capabilities under atypical circumstances, such as fine guiding with unstacked or defocused images, or planning targeted observations in the presence of substantial time-variable offsets to the telescope line of sight. Coordination for this process across the JWST partnership has been conducted through the Wavefront Sensing and Control Operations Working Group. We describe at a high level the activities of this group and the resulting detailed commissioning operations plans, supporting software tools development, and ongoing preparations activities at the Science and Operations Center. For each major step in JWSTs wavefront sensing and control, we also explain the changes and additions that were needed to turn an initial operations concept into a flight-ready plan with proven tools. These efforts are leading to a robust and well-tested process and preparing the team for an efficient and successful commissioning of JWSTs active telescope.

Wavefront sensing and controls demo during the cryo-vac testing of JWST

A subset of the Wavefront Sensing and Controls (WFSC) operations for JWST were demonstrated during its recent cryo-vac testing using the flight telescope and instruments, and a functional simulation of the spacecraft and ground system. The demonstration had three goals: to confirm the operation of the flight data collection scripts, to check the WFSC optical components, and to verify the coordinates and influence functions that will be used for flight WFSC. In this paper, we present the results and lessons learned from this demonstration.

Small-grid dithering strategy for improved coronagraphic performance with JWST

Coronagraphic Target Acquisition (TA) is an important factor that contributes to the contrast performance and typically depends on the coronagraph design. In the case of JWST, coronagraphic TAs rely on measuring the centroid of the stars point spread function away from the focal plane mask, and performing a small angle ma- neuver (SAM), to place the star behind the coronagraphic mask. Therefore, the accuracy of the TA is directly limited by the SAM accuracy. Typically JWST coronagraphic observations will include the subtraction of a reference (either a reference star, or a self-reference after a telescope roll). With such differential measurement, the reproducibility of the TA is a very important factor. We propose a novel coronagraphic observation concept whereby the reference PSF is first acquired using a standard TA, followed by coronagraphic observations of a reference star on a small grid of dithered positions. Sub-pixel dithers (5-10 mas each) provide a small reference PSF library that samples the variations in the PSF as a function of position relative to the mask, thus compen- sating for errors in the TA process. This library can be used for PSF subtraction with a variety of algorithms (e.g; LOCI or KLIP algorithms, Lafrenière et al. 2007; Soummer, Pueyo and Larkin 2012). These sub-pixel dithers are executed under closed-loop fine guidance, unlike a standard SAM that executes the maneuver in coarse point mode, which can result in a temporary target offset of 1 arcsecond and would bring the star out from behind the coronagraphic mask. We discuss and evaluate the performance gains from this observation scenario compared to the standard TA both for MIRI coronagraphs.

Small-grid dithers for the JWST coronagraphs

We discuss new results of coronagraphic simulations demonstrating a novel mode for JWST that utilizes sub-pixel dithered reference images, called Small-Grid Dithers, to optimize coronagraphic PSF subtraction. These sub-pixel dithers are executed with the Fine Steering Mirror under fine guidance, are accurate to ~2-3 milliarcseconds (1-σ/axis), and provide ample speckle diversity to reconstruct an optimized synthetic reference PSF using LOCI or KLIP. We also discuss the performance gains of Small-Grid Dithers compared to the standard undithered scenario, and show potential contrast gain factors for the NIRCam and MIRI coronagraphs ranging from 2 to more than 10, respectively.

James Webb Space Telescope optical simulation testbed III: first experimental results with linear-control alignment

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Optical Simulation Testbed (JOST) is a tabletop experiment designed to study wavefront sensing and control for a segmented space telescope, including both commissioning and maintenance activities. JOST is complementary to existing testbeds for JWST (e.g. the Ball Aerospace Testbed Telescope TBT) given its compact scale and flexibility, ease of use, and colocation at the JWST Science and Operations Center. The design of JOST reproduces the physics of JWST’s three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) using three custom aspheric lenses. It provides similar quality image as JWST (80% Strehl ratio) over a field equivalent to a NIRCam module, but at 633 nm. An Iris AO segmented mirror stands for the segmented primary mirror of JWST. Actuators allow us to control (1) the 18 segments of the segmented mirror in piston, tip, tilt and (2) the second lens, which stands for the secondary mirror, in tip, tilt and x, y, z positions. We present the full linear control alignment infrastructure developed for JOST, with an emphasis on multi-field wavefront sensing and control. Our implementation of the Wavefront Sensing (WFS) algorithms using phase diversity is experimentally tested. The wavefront control (WFC) algorithms, which rely on a linear model for optical aberrations induced by small misalignments of the three lenses, are tested and validated on simulations.

James Webb Space Telescope optical simulation testbed V: wide-field phase retrieval assessment

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Optical Simulation Testbed (JOST) is a hardware simulator for wavefront sensing and control designed to produce JWST-like images. A model of the JWST three mirror anastigmat is realized with three lenses in the form of a Cooke triplet, which provides JWST-like optical quality over a field equivalent to a NIRCam module. An Iris AO hexagonally segmented mirror stands in for the JWST primary. This setup successfully produces images extremely similar to expected JWST in- ight point spread functions (PSFs), and NIRCam images from cryotesting, in terms of the PSF morphology and sampling relative to the diffraction limit. The segmentation of the primary mirror into subapertures introduces complexity into wavefront sensing and control (WFSandC) of large space based telescopes like JWST. JOST provides a platform for independent analysis of WFSandC scenarios for both commissioning and maintenance activities on such observatories. We present an update of the current status of the testbed including both single field and wide-field alignment results. We assess the optical quality of JOST over a wide field of view to inform the future implementation of different wavefront sensing algorithms including the currently implemented Linearized Algorithm for Phase Diversity (LAPD). JOST complements other work at the Makidon Laboratory at the Space Telescope Science Institute, including the High-contrast imager for Complex Aperture Telescopes (HiCAT) testbed, that investigates coronagraphy for segmented aperture telescopes. Beyond JWST we intend to use JOST for WFSandC studies for future large segmented space telescopes such as LUVOIR.

Updated optical modeling of JWST coronagraph performance contrast, stability, and strategies

We update performance simulations and contrast predictions for JWSTs coronagraphs based on the latest infor- mation on the as-built telescope and instrument properties, including both static and dynamic contributions to wavefront error. By combining optical modeling of the telescope, instruments and coronagraph optics along with STScIs rigorously-validated exposure time calculation engine, we develop updated contrast models including contributions from effects such as target acquisition residuals, stellar color differences, etc. We present assessments of the impact of wavefront error changes over time between science and PSF reference stars, using modeled wavefront drifts on various timescales based on available observatory structural/thermal/optical modeling and tested performance during the OTIS cryo test, extrapolated to on-orbit conditions. For NIRCam we explore tradeoffs between different occulting masks at a given wavelength. Between now and the start of Cycle 1 science, these and other updated simulations will enable the science community to prepare analysis tools and PSF subtraction software to hit the ground running with JWST coronagraphic observations.

James Webb Space Telescope optical simulation testbed IV: linear control alignment of the primary segmented mirror and the secondary mirror

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Optical Simulation Testbed (JOST) is a tabletop experiment designed to study wavefront sensing and control for a segmented space telescope, such as JWST. With the JWST Science and Operations Center co-located at STScI, JOST was developed to provide both a platform for staff training and to test alternate wavefront sensing and control strategies for independent validation or future improvements beyond the baseline operations. The design of JOST reproduces the physics of JWST’s three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) using three custom aspheric lenses. It provides similar quality image as JWST (80% Strehl ratio) over a field equivalent to a NIRCam module, but at 633 nm. An Iris AO segmented mirror stands for the segmented primary mirror of JWST. Actuators allow us to control (1) the 18 segments of the segmented mirror in piston, tip, tilt and (2) the second lens, which stands for the secondary mirror, in tip, tilt and x, y, z positions. We present the most recent experimental results for the segmented mirror alignment. Our implementation of the Wavefront Sensing (WFS) algorithms using phase diversity is tested on simulation and experimentally. The wavefront control (WFC) algorithms, which rely on a linear model for optical aberrations induced by misalignment of the secondary lens and the segmented mirror, are tested and validated both on simulations and experimentally. In this proceeding, we present the performance of the full active optic control loop in presence of perturbations on the segmented mirror, and we detail the quality of the alignment correction.

James Webb Space telescope optical simulation testbed: experimental results with linear control alignment

The current generation of terrestrial telescopes has large enough primary mirror diameters that active optical control based on wavefront sensing is necessary. Similarly, in space, while the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has a mostly passive optical design, apart from focus control, its successor the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has active control of many degrees of freedom in its primary and secondary mirrors.