The WFIRST CGI Integral Field Spectrograph: Requirements and Performance Predictions

Abstract

The WFIRST coronagraphic instrument (CGI)will demonstrate exoplanet spectroscopy using an integral field spectrograph (IFS). The CGI IFS, being designed and built at Goddard Space Flight Center, has a spectral resolution of R50 and is designed to accommodate a 20% bandpass spanning 600–970 nm. The IFS is principally targeting the abundance of Methane features, with the primary coronagraph band being centered around 770nm. Key to the performance estimates are the achievable signal-to-noise (SNR)ratios and the stability of the microspectra over the course of tens and hundreds of hours. As a technology demonstration for CGI, the ability to close a wavefront control loop around the IFS, maintain a stable dark hole, and provide time resolved data that simultaneously spans spatial and spectral dimensions are crucial demonstrations for future observatories. The IFS is optimized both for coronagraphs and science observations with a potential future starshade. We highlight how the long duration observations, and requirements for both starshades and coronagraphs drive the IFS requirements and the calibrations required both on-orbit and on the ground. We also provide further detail on the optomechanical design, its stability based on thermal and structural predictions, anticipated performance, and operations concept of the CGI IFS. The impact of these performance metrics are projected into simulated data products, demonstrating cube extraction of noisy images and the subsequent planet spectrum that can be extracted from them. These demonstrations and performance predictions are key to future missions such as LUVOIR and HabEx, whose principal science case relies on efficient spectroscopy of exoplanets.