Two Fabry-Perot interferometers for high precision wavelength calibration in the near-infrared

Abstract

The most frequently used standard light sources for spectroscopic high precision wavelength calibration are hollow cathode lamps. These lamps, however, do not provide homogeneous line distribution and intensities. Particularly in the infrared, the number of useful lines is severely limited and the spectrum is contaminated by lines of the filler gas. With the goal of achieving sub m/s stability in the infrared, as required for detecting earthlike extra-solar planets, we are developing two passively stabilized Fabry-Perot interferometers for the red visible (600-1050nm) and near infrared wavelength regions (900-1350nm). Each of the two interferometers can produce ~15,000 lines of nearly constant brightness. The Fabry-Perot interferometers aim at a RV calibration precision of 10cm/s and are optimized in line shape and spacing for the infrared planet hunting CARMENES spectrograph that is currently being built for the Calar Alto 3.5m telescope. Here we present the first results of our work.