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PyISH: Python Integral Field Spectroscopy Simulation for HWO

Grace Sweetak, Breann Sitarski, Kevin France, Randall McEntaffer, Richard Cartwright

TL;DR

A high-fidelity UV IFS simulation tool is developed that is designed to be used by scientists to model specific science cases as seen by a UV IFS on HWO, as well as engineers to explore the trade space when developing potential instrument architectures.

Abstract

The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be a large ultraviolet/optical/near-infrared space telescope operating at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2. HWO was highly recommended by the National Academies` 2020 decadal survey and will be the first telescope designed specifically to search for life on planets orbiting other stars. HWO will also be able to perform a host of other transformational astrophysics, including cosmology, galaxy evolution, solar system science, and beyond. The development of the telescope and instrument suite is an iterative process. Example observatory architectures, called exploratory analytic cases (EACs) by the HWO Technology Maturation Project Office (TMPO), are modeled end-to-end to explore the engineering and science trade space. Recently, an ultraviolet Integral Field Spectrograph (UV IFS) was added to HWO's instrument suite for the EACs 4 and 5. To explore the science and engineering trade space for this specific instrument, we developed a high-fidelity UV IFS simulation tool, PyISH. The UV IFS simulation tool is designed to be used by scientists to model specific science cases as seen by a UV IFS on HWO, as well as engineers to explore the trade space when developing potential instrument architectures. The modular components, deliverables, and an example of the tool simulating a specific science case proposed for HWO are described in this paper.

PyISH: Python Integral Field Spectroscopy Simulation for HWO

TL;DR

A high-fidelity UV IFS simulation tool is developed that is designed to be used by scientists to model specific science cases as seen by a UV IFS on HWO, as well as engineers to explore the trade space when developing potential instrument architectures.

Abstract

The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be a large ultraviolet/optical/near-infrared space telescope operating at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2. HWO was highly recommended by the National Academies` 2020 decadal survey and will be the first telescope designed specifically to search for life on planets orbiting other stars. HWO will also be able to perform a host of other transformational astrophysics, including cosmology, galaxy evolution, solar system science, and beyond. The development of the telescope and instrument suite is an iterative process. Example observatory architectures, called exploratory analytic cases (EACs) by the HWO Technology Maturation Project Office (TMPO), are modeled end-to-end to explore the engineering and science trade space. Recently, an ultraviolet Integral Field Spectrograph (UV IFS) was added to HWO's instrument suite for the EACs 4 and 5. To explore the science and engineering trade space for this specific instrument, we developed a high-fidelity UV IFS simulation tool, PyISH. The UV IFS simulation tool is designed to be used by scientists to model specific science cases as seen by a UV IFS on HWO, as well as engineers to explore the trade space when developing potential instrument architectures. The modular components, deliverables, and an example of the tool simulating a specific science case proposed for HWO are described in this paper.
Paper Structure (23 sections, 14 equations, 15 figures, 7 tables)

This paper contains 23 sections, 14 equations, 15 figures, 7 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Simulation Tool Modules
  3. Integration of User Inputs
  4. Option A: Adjust Height
  5. Option B: Adjust Width
  6. Option C: Adjust Height and Width
  7. Option Summary
  8. Update Parameters
  9. Image Processing
  10. Instrument Design Integration
  11. IFS Slicer
  12. Detector Readout and Final Products
  13. Simulation Tool Example: Europa
  14. Integration of User Inputs
  15. Update Parameters
  16. ...and 8 more sections

Figures (15)

  • Figure 1: Exploratory Analytic Cases (EACs) 4 and 5. Both designs will include a UV IFS, with EAC 4 having an inscribed primary diameter greater than 6.5 meters, and EAC 5 having an inscribed primary diameter greater than 8 meters Feinberg2024TheOpportunities.
  • Figure 2: An example of a three-dimensional cube depicting the spatial dimensions and a visible spectral dimension. A 3D cube is one of the main data products from an Integral Field Spectrograph. EuropeanSouthernObservatoryIntegralUnits
  • Figure 3: Schematic depicting the function of each optic in an Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS)EuropeanSouthernObservatoryIntegralUnits. Haughton2025INFUSESpectrograph
  • Figure 4: Flowchart describing the results of each module in our UV IFS simulation, and which sections in this paper describe the module.
  • Figure 5: Efficiencies for each optical component assumed in the UV IFS simulation. The quantum efficiency is measured in flight, while the grating efficiency and coating reflectivity is measured in the lab Nell2024Far-ImagingHoadley2016TheResultsQuijada2025Far-ultravioletXeMgF2.
  • ...and 10 more figures