Space-Qualified Mid-Infrared Illumination Sources

摘要

We present details of a new illumination source, suitable for use on mid-infrared satellite instruments. The device is based around an electrically heated tungsten filament. The source is compact, and dissipates typically 9 mW for an effective black-body temperature of 1000 K. A typical device design will warm from 4 K to 1000 K in around 1 s, and cool from 1000 K to 4 K in around 2.5 s. We present results for a range of device designs, and discuss the range of parameter space (e.g. power dissipation, time constant, photon flux) to which these devices can be tuned. A device of this type is currently in qualification for flight on JWST-MIRI, and similar devices are being considered for use on JWST-NIRSPEC and SPICA-ESI.