Developing an instrument simulator: experience feedback from the JWST/NIRSpec and VLT/MUSE simulators

Aurélien Jarno; Laure Piqueras; Roland Bacon; Pierre Ferruit; Emeline Legros; Arlette Pécontal-Rousset; Xavier Gnata; Ole Streicher; Peter Weilbacher

doi:10.1117/12.926420

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25 September 2012 Developing an instrument simulator: experience feedback from the JWST/NIRSpec and VLT/MUSE simulators

Aurélien Jarno, Laure Piqueras, Roland Bacon, Pierre Ferruit, Emeline Legros, Arlette Pécontal-Rousset, Xavier Gnata, Ole Streicher, Peter Weilbacher

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Proceedings Volume 8449, Modeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy V; 84490A (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926420
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon (CRAL) has recently developed two instrument simulators for spectrographic instruments. They are based on Fourier optics, and model the whole chain of acquisition, taking into account both optical aberrations and diffraction effects, by propagating a wavefront through the instrument, according to the Fourier optics concept. One simulates the NIRSpec instrument, a near-infrared multi-object spectrograph for the future James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The other one models the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument, a second-generation integral-field spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope (VLT). The two simulators have been developed in different contexts (subcontracted versus developed internally), and for very different instruments (space-based versus ground-based), which strengthen the CRAL experience. This paper describes the lessons learned while developing these simulators: development methods, phasing with the project, points to focus on, getting data, interacting with scientists and users, etc.

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Aurélien Jarno, Laure Piqueras, Roland Bacon, Pierre Ferruit, Emeline Legros, Arlette Pécontal-Rousset, Xavier Gnata, Ole Streicher, and Peter Weilbacher "Developing an instrument simulator: experience feedback from the JWST/NIRSpec and VLT/MUSE simulators", Proc. SPIE 8449, Modeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy V, 84490A (25 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926420

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